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Monday 12 May 2025
Weekly news roundup: China unveils 10nm chip tool, Huawei stealth-builds fabs, rare earth prices spike
These are the top-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of May 5 – May 11. From major chipmakers reshaping strategies under geopolitical pressure to rare earth shocks and Huawei's stealth fab push, here's a snapshot of the tech industry's most closely watched developments
Monday 12 May 2025
US-China trade talks in Geneva yield significant progress
High-level trade negotiations between the US and China, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 10-11, concluded with both sides reporting substantial progress and key agreements, signaling a step toward addressing longstanding trade imbalances
Friday 9 May 2025
Lee Jae-Yong's 10-year smart M&A strategy builds Samsung's technology ecosystem
Over the past decade, Samsung Electronics executive chairman Lee Jae-Yong has leveraged global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to transform Samsung into a "technology-first" company. Rather than pursuing large-scale deals, Lee has focused on strategic acquisitions that strengthen core technologies. These efforts have laid the foundation for Samsung's competitiveness in semiconductors, automotive electronics, AI, and display sectors
Friday 9 May 2025
Japan's Denso, Rohm forge chip alliance targeting EVs and autonomous driving
On May 8, Japanese automotive parts supplier Denso and chipmaker Rohm Semiconductor announced a strategic partnership aimed at deepening collaboration in semiconductor development and production. Citing reports from Nikkei and Car Watch, the companies said the alliance will span joint chip development, integrated manufacturing, and coordinated raw material procurement, with implementation details to be finalized later
Friday 9 May 2025
Huawei unveils HarmonyOS PC ahead of HDC 2025 debut to challenge Windows dominance

Huawei officially launched its HarmonyOS PC operating system on May 8, expanding into the computer market with a rebuilt OS featuring enhanced performance, security, and cross-device collaboration. The move positions Huawei to challenge Windows' dominance as it prepares to debut its first HarmonyOS-based PC at HDC 2025 next month

Friday 9 May 2025
Taiwan and Japan forge strategic semiconductor alliance to bolster global chip supply chain
As global tech competition intensifies, Taiwan and Japan, two semiconductor powerhouses, are deepening ties with the launch of a new strategic alliance. On May 7, the Taiwan-Japan Semiconductor Technology Promotion Association was officially established, marking a major step forward in strengthening bilateral cooperation and securing the future of the global chip supply chain
Friday 9 May 2025
As US-China tech decoupling deepens, Chinese firm breaks ground in advanced chip inspection equipment

As tensions escalate between the US and China over semiconductor technology, China has placed domestic innovation in chipmaking tools at the center of its national tech strategy. In a significant milestone, Chinese firm Skyverse Technology announced that its REDWOOD-900, a domestically developed bright-field wafer inspection system, has begun shipments to several Chinese semiconductor fabs, marking a rare breakthrough in a field long dominated by foreign giants

Friday 9 May 2025
SMIC may be expanding use of Chinese equipment as yield challenges weigh on outlook
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) reported that average selling prices declined in the latter half of the first quarter of 2025 due to production fluctuations at its fabs, causing revenue to fall short of previous guidance. The company indicated this impact will continue into the second quarter. As a result, SMIC forecasts second-quarter revenue to decline by 4~6% quarter-on-quarter, with a projected gross margin between 18% and 20%
Friday 9 May 2025
China's chip crunch deepens: Hua Hong drops 88% as nearly 50 firms post losses

Hua Hong Semiconductor, a major Chinese state-owned foundry, posted a sharp profit drop for the first quarter of 2025, with net income falling 88.1% year-over-year to US$3.8 million. In yuan terms, net profit came in at CNY22.76 million, down 89.73%. Core earnings, excluding one-off items, fell even further to CNY16.10 million (approx. US$2.23 million), a 92.3% year-over-year decline. The earnings slump came despite revenue growth, underscoring the growing strain on the company's core business

Friday 9 May 2025
SMIC reports minimal tariff impact, yield issues hit 2Q25 guidance, and low 2025 outlook visibility
On May 9, 2025, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) held its first quarter 2025 earnings call, with co-CEO Haijun Zhao addressing performance, tariff impacts, and operational challenges. SMIC reported a minimal tariff impact of less than 1% on revenue, while unexpected yield issues from maintenance and equipment validation led to a 4-6% revenue decline forecast for Q2 2025. Limited visibility for the second half of 2025 was noted, driven by seasonal demand and tariff uncertainties, with clearer shipment forecasts expected by August
Friday 9 May 2025
SMIC signals cautious outlook for 2Q25
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, reporting revenue of US$2.247 billion. This represents a 1.8% increase compared to US$2.207 billion recorded in the previous quarter and a 28.4% rise from US$1.750 billion reported in the first quarter of 2024. The company's gross margin remained steady at 22.5%, slightly lower than the 22.6% reported in the fourth quarter of 2024, but significantly higher than the 13.7% seen in the same period last year
Friday 9 May 2025
Naura overtakes SMIC in net profit as China's chip tool strategy delivers
Naura Technology Group, China's top semiconductor equipment supplier, reported a record net profit of CNY5.62 billion (US$776.5 million) in 2024, surpassing SMIC for the first time. The milestone underscores the financial upside of Beijing's intensified push for localized chipmaking tools amid US tech restrictions
Thursday 8 May 2025
Ex-SK Hynix employee charged in South Korea for leaking chip tech to HiSilicon

A former employee surnamed Kim at the Chinese division of South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix has been indicted on charges of leaking confidential semiconductor technologies, including advanced image sensors and chip packaging techniques, amid an alleged attempt to defect to HiSilicon, a semiconductor subsidiary of Chinese tech giant Huawei

Thursday 8 May 2025
US confronts battery shortfall as Chinese solar giants gear up for tenfold expansion
China dominates global solar manufacturing with an 85% market share, a position that has prompted strategic shifts in US policy. During former President Joe Biden's administration, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offered substantial subsidies, enticing Chinese solar firms to establish US-based factories. In contrast, President Donald Trump has signaled intentions to repeal the IRA and escalate tariff wars, further accelerating Chinese manufacturers' rush to build American facilities
Thursday 8 May 2025
SK Hynix to end DDR4 production by 2Q26, sparks supply crunch
The two major South Korean DRAM manufacturers are each preparing to discontinue their older DDR4 production lines. Following Samsung Electronics' early April announcement of its end-of-life (EOL) plan, SK Hynix recently notified suppliers with an EOL letter regarding DDR4 chips. The company plans to phase out 8GB and 16GB DDR4 chips produced using the 1z nanometer process, officially entering the discontinuation stage by April 2026
Research Report Database
Intel signals overhaul of IDM 2.0 and foundry strategy with Lip-Bu Tan's appointment, says DIGITIMES