Huawei is now believed to operate at least 11 semiconductor fabrication plants across China, covering memory, logic, and foundry segments—underscoring its strategic shift toward becoming a fully integrated device manufacturer (IDM), similar to Intel or Samsung
Samsung Electronics is reportedly planning to outsource the production of photomasks used in memory manufacturing. To prevent technology leaks, Samsung has traditionally produced all photomasks in-house. However, due to multiple recent factors, the company intends to adjust this strategy
China, having solidified its dominance in the LCD panel market, is now intensifying its push into organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. A government-driven "trade-in" program has sparked a surge in the domestic smartphone market, with Chinese manufacturers rapidly expanding into the foldable device sector. This strategic focus has significantly accelerated OLED panel production
In a notable breakthrough for global trade, senior officials from the US and China convened in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss a preliminary trade deal. Both nations have agreed to substantial tariff reductions for 90 days, a move expected to relieve the PC components industry and gaming sector by stabilizing prices and alleviating ongoing supply chain disruptions
The US-China tech conflict is intensifying even as leaders project a veneer of diplomacy. During trade talks in Geneva, President Donald Trump said the US was "not looking to hurt China," hinting at a tension pause. Yet, almost simultaneously, Washington imposed new export restrictions on AI chips, explicitly banning the global use of Huawei's Ascend processors
Chinese foundries SMIC and Hua Hong Semiconductor are reportedly stepping up efforts to expand their American presence, not by building fabs there, but by securing orders from US-based IC design companies under the local-for-local, China-for-China strategy amid intense chipmaking competition in China
Japan Display Inc. (JDI) confirmed plans on May 15 to lay off over 1,000 employees in Japan as part of a large-scale restructuring, according to reports from Nikkei Asia and Asahi Shimbun. With approximately 2,700 domestic employees as of March 2025, the move could slash the company's Japanese workforce by nearly half and reduce its global headcount—currently around 4,100—by nearly one-third
VeriSilicon Holdings Co. launched the 15th Songshan Lake China IC Innovation Summit Forum on May 13, 2025, in Dongguan's Songshan Lake district. This year's forum highlights 10 domestically developed chips tailored for embodied intelligent robots, spanning machine vision, voice AI, and spatial computing. The event brings together key stakeholders across the semiconductor supply chain to examine emerging technologies and industry directions
China has granted rare earth export permits to domestic magnet manufacturers for the first time since introducing sweeping restrictions in April 2025, in a move reflecting a calibrated stance on mineral controls amid easing trade tensions with the US
Although the 2025 Shanghai International Auto Show has concluded, its ripple effects continue to shape the automotive landscape. Bolstered by the Chinese government's early implementation of trade-in subsidies, alongside a confluence of auto show buzz and promotional campaigns, China's passenger vehicle retail sales soared to 1.81 million units in April 2025, marking the second-highest monthly figure on record
Samsung Electronics' foundry division is actively pursuing orders for its 2nm process technology and is currently conducting process evaluations with major clients, including Nvidia and Qualcomm
Chinese panel manufacturers BOE Technology and TCL China Star Optoelectronics (TCL CSOT) have reportedly begun scaling back their LCD panel production in response to the tariff policies imposed by the Trump administration since January 2025, which have effectively blocked their export channels to the US. Despite strategic efforts to expand into alternative markets across Europe and Asia, these companies face significant challenges securing new customers in the short term. Compounding their difficulties, the Chinese government has reduced subsidies, leaving production cuts as their only viable recourse
SiCarrier, a Chinese semiconductor equipment startup backed by the Shenzhen municipal government, is seeking to raise US$2.8 billion in its first funding round, targeting a valuation of around US$11 billion. Founded in 2021 and closely linked to Huawei, the firm has emerged as a key player in China's national drive for chipmaking self-sufficiency
Huawei International and Keppel Ltd.'s Infrastructure Division have entered a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop renewable energy solutions, particularly in photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS)
South Korean AI software company Moreh is developing "K-DeepSeek," a model designed to surpass China's DeepSeek while slashing development costs, according to TheElec and ET News. Moreh insiders revealed the company's commitment to achieving academic certification by the third quarter of 2025, enabling commercial deployment
