Amid uncertainties in the Chinese market and reduced spending by automotive chip and power semiconductor manufacturers, Japanese semiconductor equipment makers have revised their sales forecast for fiscal year 2025 (April 2025 - March 2026). Nevertheless, demand for advanced process chips, especially those needed for artificial intelligence (AI), is anticipated to lead to a 5% year-over-year sales growth in 2025.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, China's Vice Premier Xuexiang Ding stated that there are "no winners" in a trade war while acknowledging the numerous difficulties and challenges currently facing the Chinese economy.

Japanese semiconductor cleaning equipment manufacturer Screen plans to increase its semiconductor manufacturing equipment production capacity to 120% of the 2023 level by fiscal year 2026 (April 2026–March 2027), aiming for annual revenue of approximately JPY600 billion (approx. US$3.9 billion) to meet growing demand in semiconductor manufacturing.

Since the discovery of graphene in 2004, research over the past two decades has advanced the use of 2D materials in semiconductor manufacturing, with academia playing a crucial role in driving their integration into advanced processes—a trend likely to continue.

China's wafer foundry industry will generate US$13.22 billion in revenue in 2024, representing a 16% year-on-year growth, slightly exceeding the global growth rate of 14%. The revenue momentum of China's wafer foundry industry stabilized in 2024, supported by the availability of new production capacities and sustained customer demand driven by geopolitical factors and the ramp-up of inventory stocking for the consumer electronics supply chain in preparation for the shopping season in the second half of 2024, according to DIGITIMES.

As TSMC's Arizona semiconductor fab prepares to begin mass production, the local semiconductor supply chain continues to strengthen. Industry experts suggest that if Trump promotes semiconductor production in the US through measures like increased tariffs, the trend of semiconductor supply chains concentrating in key places like Arizona will accelerate further.

Samsung unveiled its latest trio of flagship smartphones this week, with promotional campaigns set to roll out across major global markets in the coming weeks. However, persistent concerns about its chip strategy have placed Samsung in a challenging "triple dilemma" that remains unresolved.

The global IC design market is expanding rapidly, driven by the growth of AI. However, South Korea's system semiconductor sector, which currently holds a modest 2% market share, faces further decline due to inadequate government support. Projections indicate that the country's share could shrink to approximately 1% by 2027.

The Trump 2.0 era is set to reshape global geopolitics and supply chains, with Taiwanese manufacturers closely monitoring US interest and exchange rate policies. Experts warn that relocating Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain to the US could lead to a "tech talent drain."

A newly released semiconductor patent innovation ranking places ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), and Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) at the forefront, showcasing their technological advancement within China's semiconductor industry amid US trade restrictions.

Texas Instruments (TI)'s latest financial results for the fourth quarter show a nuanced performance, with overall revenue slightly declining yet exceeding market forecasts, indicating the weak automotive and industrial markets.

As Taiwan progresses toward its energy transition and net-zero carbon emissions goals, the energy storage market has emerged as a critical driver. Among recent developments, shared energy storage stands out as a promising business model and potential solution for managing power needs in Taiwan's high-energy-consuming science and industrial parks.

Wood, traditionally used as raw material for paper, is now being explored as a potential source for semiconductor photoresists. According to a report by Nikkei, Japanese papermaker Oji Holdings is currently developing semiconductor photoresists derived from wood biomass, aiming to commercialize them by 2028. These eco-friendly biomass photoresists offer improved performance and avoid harmful additives like PFAS.

With India dedicating substantial incentives to bolster its local electronics supply chain, the country is witnessing the rise of new domestic companies within the semiconductor and EMS sectors.

Samsung Electronics plans to drastically reduce capital expenditure for its wafer foundry business by more than half in 2025, as the company grapples with a lack of customer orders.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has indicated that US President Donald Trump's most significant tariff policies are still pending announcement. A recent MOEA survey on Taiwanese manufacturers' export strategies revealed that only 8.9% have taken proactive measures to address potential US protectionist policies, while the majority maintain an observing stance.

TSMC is advancing its compact optical engine technology, branded as COUPE, a top priority among its emerging innovations. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, during a recent visit to Taiwan, highlighted collaboration with TSMC on silicon photonics, though the results will take years to materialize.

The demand for silicon photonics (SiPh) is set to accelerate in 2025, with the introduction of 800G silicon products into general-purpose servers. LandMark Optoelectronics (LMOC) is optimistic about strong growth in SiPh demand in 2025, as it focuses on meeting customer needs.

Chinese foundries, despite their advanced process expertise and competitive pricing, remain less attractive to Taiwan-based IC design firms primarily due to intellectual property and geopolitical concerns.

With customers advancing their orders in anticipation of President Trump's upcoming trade policies, Greatek Electronics, a Powertech Technology (PTI) Group company specializing in consumer logic IC packaging and testing, has reported better-than-expected sales for the fourth quarter of 2024.

South Korea's Suwon District Prosecutors' Office has indicted 11 individuals on charges of stealing Samsung Electronics' semiconductor cleaning technology. The case has drawn widespread attention as it marks a rare instance where a Chinese company set up operations in South Korea specifically to facilitate the illicit acquisition of proprietary technology.

The Netherlands expects President Donald Trump to keep pressing to restrict ASML Holding NV's exports of chip-making machines to China, according to Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and Infineon Technologies have launched a vendor development program to enhance Malaysia's semiconductor industry.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has launched an innovative type of asset-based financing that utilizes semiconductor manufacturing equipment as collateral. This approach involves collaboration with external specialists for asset valuation. Memory chip manufacturer Kioxia has already benefited from this financing model, and it could potentially be extended to other chipmakers, like Rapidus.

While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's recent comments at CES 2025--suggesting it may take at least 20 years to develop a "truly useful" quantum computer--have sparked widespread debate, Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Cheng-wen Wu has emphasized that quantum computing is a global competition, and Taiwan remains committed to advancing quantum research. Wu noted that whether it takes 3–5 years or 30–50 years, Taiwan will not be left behind.