Amidst the global economic downturn and the continuous slowdown in end-product IT demand, Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) and LG Innotek, which previously experienced severe performance slumps, have outperformed industry expectations in the first quarter of 2024 by supplying high-value-added products for AI and EV demand.
The semiconductor industry is witnessing significant shifts influenced by geopolitical considerations. One recent case exemplifying this trend is King Yuan Electronics's (KYEC) sale of 90% equity in its China subsidiary Jinglong Technology (Suzhou) for approximately CNY48.85 billion (about US$675 million).
Leading South Korea-based battery manufacturers LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On reported unsatisfactory financial performance in the first quarter of 2024 due to slow EV market growth, customers adjusting their inventory levels, and falling metal prices.
Apple Inc. surprised investors with a decent beat on quarterly revenue from China, countering months of data that showed a quickening decline in iPhone sales.
Chinese carmaker Seres, a Huawei partner, came out of the red in the first quarter of 2024 after experiencing losses for five years. The Aito EVs it co-developed with Huawei have gained traction in the market and accounted for 70% of Seres' sales volume.
Qualcomm's first-quarter fiscal report has signaled an ongoing recovery in smartphone demand, with robust demand in the high-end Chinese smartphone market.
Counterpoint released the global foundry market share ranking for the fourth quarter of 2023, showing that TSMC maintained its leadership status with a 61% market share driven by strong demand from AI and the restocking of smartphones.
While the European Union and the US have imposed many restrictions on China-made EVs, the measures seem also to benefit Chinese carmakers. European and US consumers have become more aware of Chinese EVs, which may affect the future market dynamic.
Bolstered by strong sales of its first AI smartphone, the Galaxy S24 series, which debuted earlier this year, Samsung Electronics Mobile eXperience (MX) division achieved remarkable results in the first quarter of 2024 despite the contraction of the smartphone market.
With sluggish iPhone sales and intense competition from Chinese panel manufacturers, Samsung Display (SDC)'s operating profit in the first quarter of 2024 saw a 56% year-on-year decrease. How SDC will respond to this has received a lot of attention.
The potential of advanced packaging technology to upgrade chip performance has attracted many Japanese equipment and material suppliers to allocate their resources in this highly specialized field to gain their entry into the high-margin market of advanced chips and Chiplet.
Against the backdrop of a secular slowdown in economic growth and a real-estate bubble burst that added debt burdens, how much longer can China continue to subsidize its industries and realize the dream of building a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain?
In the first quarter of 2024, BYD's net profit was CNY4.57 billion (approx. US$630 million), a year-on-year increase of 10.6%, but a significant decrease of 47.3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. This highlighted that profitability was impacted by slowing demand for EVs and intense price competition. Market analysis suggests that while the penetration and sales of EVs are growing, it has come with a decrease in profits.
Leading handset chip vendors Qualcomm and MediaTek are unlikely to be alarmed by Huawei's fast rebound in China's smartphone market, according to industry sources.
