The newest round of subsidies for trade-in programs made by China's government targeting TVs and consumer electronics has effectively boosted LCD TV demand in the fourth quarter, stabilizing panel prices. The most notable growth was observed in the ultra-large TV segment, but concerns about the potential overdrawing of future demand remain

Chinese government subsidies successfully drove electronics sales during Single's Day shopping events, according to sources at IC design houses. However, concerns have emerged that this may have only accelerated consumer spending, potentially weakening demand in the first half of 2025

Reports from Kyodo and Nikkei indicate that the Japanese government intends to invest around JPY200 billion (approx. US$1.3 billion) in Rapidus during the fiscal year 2025, spanning from April 2025 to March 2026. This investment aims to bolster the development of advanced semiconductor mass production capabilities in Japan. Additionally, by providing government support, the initiative seeks to encourage private-sector financing and investments in Rapidus

The Chinese PC market is expected to experience particularly weak sales during the first quarter of 2025, following a surge in replacement demand driven by government trade-in subsidies, according to industry sources

Rohm Semiconductor is grappling with a significant slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) market, leading to reduced semiconductor demand and an unexpected financial loss

China's presence in the world of supercomputing has diminished significantly, according to the latest Top500 list. The number of Chinese systems on the prestigious ranking dropped to 62 from 134 in June 2023, marking a dramatic decline that coincides with the US Department of Commerce's decision to blacklist Inspur, a major Chinese supercomputer manufacturer, in March 2023

LG Group (LG) has set a target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, making it the only South Korean conglomerate to publicly announce specific carbon neutrality goals and timelines. The company plans to invest KRW1.8 trillion (approx. US$1.3 billion) over the next five years

Xiaomi CEO Jun Lei recently announced the company's strongest-ever quarterly performance, a remarkable achievement given China's current economic climate. However, challenges are emerging for the tech giant

Samsung Electronics will reportedly terminate its MLC NAND production by next year, shifting focus to high-capacity NAND production, according to industry sources

China's Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration has announced significant changes to its export tax rebate policy, effective December 1. The new policy eliminates rebates for 59 products and reduces the rebate rate from 13% to 9% for 209 items, including refined oil, solar panels, lithium batteries, and modules, vanadium redox flow batteries, and certain non-metallic mineral products. This 4% reduction represents an approximate 30% decrease in rebates

Royole Technologies, a pioneer in foldable display technology and the creator of the world's first commercial foldable smartphone has declared bankruptcy. Despite its early lead and innovative products, the company struggled financially, leading to its demise

Chinese EV giant BYD has unveiled its most advanced self-developed automotive chip, manufactured using a cutting-edge 4nm process. Industry sources report that the BYD 9000 represents China's most sophisticated automotive chip to date, with manufacturing reportedly handled by TSMC. The chip's striking similarities to MediaTek's MT8673 have sparked speculation about a strategic partnership between BYD and MediaTek

Huawei's ambitions to create more powerful chips for AI and smartphones have hit major snags because of US sanctions, stalling a major Chinese effort to match American technology

Hong Kong-based graphics card manufacturer PC Partner has strategically relocated its headquarters to Singapore to navigate US export controls on chips to China. The company has also planned to move its graphics card production lines to Indonesia, positioning itself to launch future Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 products while maintaining compliance with US Department of Commerce regulations

Eternal Materials, a leading supplier of PCB upstream materials including dry film photoresists, acknowledges China's ongoing economic slowdown. Despite these challenges, spokesperson B.C. Liu confirmed the company's steady operational footing in the region. While maintaining a cautious stance on future growth, Eternal Materials anticipates moderate expansion opportunities ahead