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Thursday 11 December 2025
China's auto sector faces major reshuffling as subsidies end and sales slump
Passenger vehicle retail sales in China declined by 8% year-over-year in November 2025, the largest drop in nearly a year and the first negative growth period since 2023, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This downturn signals early signs of a significant industry reshuffle triggered by the withdrawal of longstanding subsidy programs
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Friday 12 December 2025
Japan's major banks and corporations back Rapidus with massive financing and new investments
Japan is accelerating its national push to rebuild an advanced semiconductor ecosystem as Rapidus, the country's flagship next-generation chip venture, secures financing from major banks and private equity from more than twenty Japanese companies. According to reports from Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun, Japan's three megabanks, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, and Mizuho Bank, will provide Rapidus with up to JPY2 trillion (approx. US$12.8 billion) in financing
Friday 12 December 2025
Camellia expands automotive sector revenue with three-phase Southeast Asia strategy
Steel bar and wire maker Camellia Metal has steadily grown sales from the automotive sector, increasing the sector's share of revenue from 33% in 2023 to 39% in 2025 despite challenging conditions. The company is actively expanding into the Southeast Asian market with a three-stage plan aimed at competing against established Japanese supply chains
Friday 12 December 2025
TSMC pauses work on second Kumamoto wafer fab amid potential shift to AI chip production
TSMC, through its Japanese subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM), has halted construction on its second wafer fabrication facility in Kikuyo Town, Kumamoto Prefecture. The project, initially intended to produce 6-7nm and 40nm automotive and image sensor chips, saw a near-complete stoppage roughly two months after groundbreaking in October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
Vietnam slaps new export curbs on rare earth
Vietnam's parliament has approved sweeping amendments to its geology and minerals law that tighten state control over the country's rare earth resources, reaffirm a ban on ore exports, and introduce new limits that effectively restrict shipments of refined materials in a bid to build a domestic processing industry
Friday 12 December 2025
Huawei and YMTC expand into South Korea’s consumer SSD market following Micron’s exit

Huawei is moving to capitalize on a tightening consumer solid-state drive (SSD) market in South Korea, introducing new products this month as established suppliers raise prices and Micron prepares to exit the segment. The shift, driven by surging demand for enterprise products supporting artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, is pushing South Korean PC makers to seek alternative suppliers, potentially opening the door for Chinese brands

Friday 12 December 2025
Nvidia-certified acquisition positions Lens Technology for rapid expansion in AI servers
Amid the global AI surge, Lens Technology acquired PMG International to gain a 95.1% stake in Yuans Technology, an Nvidia-certified supplier specializing in liquid cooling and server racks. This strategic move enhances Lens's capabilities in AI server hardware, complementing its consumer electronics expertise
Friday 12 December 2025
AWS to invest US$7 billion in Telangana cloud infrastructure expansion over 14 years
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has signed a long-term framework agreement with the Telangana government to invest US$7 billion in expanding its cloud data-center infrastructure in Hyderabad over the next 14 years. The deal was finalized during the Telangana Rising Global Summit held on December 8–9 and announced on Thursday
Friday 12 December 2025
Huawei–SMIC chip hits milestone, still lags TSMC’s 5nm

China is accelerating its semiconductor capabilities through technical gains at Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.(SMIC) while simultaneously mandating the use of domestic processors across state sectors to circumvent US export controls

Friday 12 December 2025
J&B International launches Vietnam plant, treats sports event orders as bonus
J&B International has initiated operations at its new Vietnam factory, shifting the site from Binh Phuoc to Dong Nai Province. CEO Clive Hsiao said the land purchase and plant design are complete, with environmental reviews underway. Construction is expected to start soon, targeting completion by end-2026 and trial production in first quarter 2027
Friday 12 December 2025
Mexico's tariff hike threatens India's auto exports as duties rise to 50% from 2026
Mexico's decision to impose import tariffs of up to 50% on goods from countries without free trade agreements is set to hit Indian exporters hard, particularly automakers. The new duties, effective January 1, 2026, will apply to more than 1,400 products ranging from vehicles and auto components to steel, plastics, and textiles
Friday 12 December 2025
Samsung reportedly accelerates Pyeongtaek expansion to ramp up HBM4 and 1c DRAM production

Samsung Electronics is reportedly accelerating construction at its Pyeongtaek semiconductor complex to expand production of next-generation high-bandwidth memory, aiming to secure supply for global cloud providers and AI chipmakers as demand intensifies. The company has reportedly approved plans to convert additional space in its P4 fab into dedicated 1c DRAM lines and has advanced completion dates for key production zones, according to Korean media reports

Friday 12 December 2025
China's transformer makers expand capacity in green energy upgrades
The global power equipment supply chain is facing a transformer shortage due to the unrelenting AI data center construction and demand for renewable energy. Delivery times for key equipment have been significantly extended, with some large transformers requiring as long as 24 months. This not only tests grid resilience but also creates challenges for major tech firms urgently seeking new power capacity
Friday 12 December 2025
Malaysia promotes rare earth industry with incentives for midstream and downstream firms
he Malaysian government announced that companies engaged in midstream and downstream production of rare earth elements (REE) are eligible for related incentive policies. According to reports from Bernama and Nanyang Siang Pau, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) stated that under the 1986 Promotion of Investments Act, these REE midstream and downstream operators can apply for Pioneer Status, which grants tax exemptions on investments
Friday 12 December 2025
Advantech expands AI ITS platform across key South Korean cities
Advantech is accelerating deployment of its end-to-end intelligent transportation system (ITS) platform as global demand for smart traffic infrastructure rises. The company has expanded its footprint across South Korea through projects in Busan, Jeju, Incheon, Gwangju, Anyang, and Daegu, delivering systems for pedestrian–vehicle coordination, school zone safety alerts, and intersection conflict detection
Friday 12 December 2025
Rapidus secures Canon, SoftBank backing for 2nm chip ambitions
Canon has reportedly entered final negotiations to invest in a state-backed chipmaker, while SoftBank prepares to increase its financial support, marking a significant step in Japan's bid to revitalize its semiconductor industry. Kyodo News reported that the funding aims to support mass production of 2nm chips at the Chitose plant in Hokkaido by the second half of fiscal 2027 and establish a foundation for future 1.4nm manufacturing