The Middle East conflict is raising concerns over global energy supply and driving sharp increases in semiconductor material costs. Compound semiconductor manufacturers say prices for high-temperature metals, including tungsten, tantalum, and molybdenum, have doubled, while gallium prices have also surged. At the same time, shortages of indium phosphide (InP) substrates persist due to supply-demand imbalances and geopolitical disruptions such as export controls

Carbon fiber, known for high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance, is often described as "black gold," the "king of new materials," and one of the strongest materials on earth. China's T1200-grade carbon fiber has appeared overseas, highlighting continued technological upgrades in China's high-performance materials sector and drawing international attention

Reports indicate AMD CEO Lisa Su will visit South Korea in the coming days to discuss cooperation with Samsung Electronics and Naver. Some observers view the trip as an effort to challenge Nvidia's dominance in the AI market by strengthening AMD's partnerships with South Korean companies

CATL released its 2025 annual report on March 9, reporting revenue of CNY423.7 billion (approx. US$61.3 billion), up 17.04% year-over-year. Net profit reached CNY72.2 billion, rising 42.28%, indicating profit growth outpaced revenue expansion

Chinese authorities have moved to curb the use of OpenClaw AI software across government agencies and state-owned enterprises (SOEs), including major banks, amid rising concerns over potential security risks linked to the rapidly spreading AI agent platform