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Tuesday 3 February 2026
YMTC enters LPDDR5 battlefield as China leans on it to steady NAND flash supply
Memory shortages are worsening across the market as international suppliers shift capacity aggressively toward servers, tightening supply for consumer electronics and automotive sectors. China's leading NAND flash producer YMTC is reportedly being assigned a stabilisation role, prioritising support for key domestic industries to maintain supply chain continuity and avoid production disruptions and layoffs
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Tuesday 3 February 2026
Huawei-linked Hubble invests in automotive chipmaker Norelsys pre-IPO

Norelsys (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. has begun IPO counseling after filing registration for listing guidance with the Tianjin branch of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, according to regulatory disclosures

Tuesday 3 February 2026
Shanghai fast-tracks 'Oriental IC Port,' adds fourth-gen semiconductors to roadmap

China is pushing ahead with its semiconductor materials strategy. Shanghai, one of the country's leading cities, has included brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and fourth-generation semiconductors among its priority future industries, signaling early preparation for a new materials era beyond third-generation semiconductors

Tuesday 3 February 2026
ByteDance reportedly eyes 2Q26 launch for new Doubao phone with dual-track partnerships
Tencent CEO Pony Ma sharply criticized the Doubao phone as "extremely unsafe and irresponsible" at the company's year-end meeting in late January 2026. However, recent reports from China's supply chain reveal that ByteDance launched the official version project of its Doubao phone assistant at the end of 2025, aiming to release a next-generation model in the second quarter of 2026
Tuesday 3 February 2026
China bans hidden EV door handles, forcing industry-wide redesigns

China has stepped up electric vehicle safety regulation, with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approving a new mandatory national standard, Technical Requirements for Automobile Door Handle Safety (GB 48001-2026). The rules require all EVs sold in China to feature independently operable mechanical door-opening mechanisms on both the inside and outside, banning designs that rely entirely on electronic systems or concealed handles

Tuesday 3 February 2026
Univacco Technology to launch Vietnam factory, targets global market competitiveness
Vacuum coating film maker Univacco Technology plans to begin mass production at its new Vietnam facility in the first half of 2027. The overseas factory is designed to take advantage of tariff benefits, lower manufacturing costs, and an ample labor supply, supporting the company's efforts to strengthen competitiveness in international markets
Tuesday 3 February 2026
iPhone gains in China squeeze MediaTek, Qualcomm revenues
Last week, Apple released its latest financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, with the iPhone 17 series continuing to post strong sales. Overall, iPhone shipments grew 23% year over year, with particularly standout performance in the Chinese market. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the number of users switching from Android to Apple far exceeded expectations. Considering that China's overall smartphone market did not actually grow in the previous quarter, this implies a relative decline in market share for other Chinese smartphone brands. This undoubtedly adds revenue pressure for other SoC vendors such as MediaTek and Qualcomm
Tuesday 3 February 2026
India's smartphone market posts mixed growth in 2025, premium segment drives value gains
India's smartphone market experienced a mixed trajectory in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The year began on a softer note, weighed down by elevated inventory and a slow product launch calendar. Momentum picked up in the second quarter, driven by fresh device launches, aggressive promotions, and festive-season channel stocking, pushing third-quarter shipments to a record quarterly value. Shipments slowed again in the fourth quarter as brands focused on inventory correction and managed rising component costs. Overall, the market grew 1% year-on-year in volume but posted a stronger 8% year-on-year growth in value, reflecting sustained premiumization
Tuesday 3 February 2026
China's AI chip swarm hits mass scale, chipping away at Nvidia's China stronghold

US export controls are accelerating China's localization of data-center AI chips, with shipment data now pointing to rapid commercial scaling. Across more than a dozen domestic brands, at least nine Chinese AI chip vendors have shipped or secured orders exceeding 10,000 units, spanning platforms backed by major technology groups and a growing group of startups

Tuesday 3 February 2026
Foxconn faces tax dispute in Karnataka, prompting government intervention
Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn is embroiled in a local tax dispute in Karnataka, with two gram panchayats issuing notices over alleged unpaid dues and requests for detailed land-use documentation. The development has sparked concerns over the state's investment climate as it seeks to attract high-end electronics manufacturers, according to The Economic Times, Money Control, and India Today
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Trump's India tariff pledge draws skepticism as New Delhi continues to diversify trade ties
A surprise tariff announcement by US President Donald Trump following a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has eased immediate trade pressure on India, but the lack of detail and India's parallel push to diversify partners suggest the deal may be more tactical than transformative
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Beijing officially lists 'future industries,' setting the stage for supply chain realignment
China has for the first time formally designated "future industries," with the framework for policy support now taking shape. The move signals a shift away from conceptual discussion, placing these sectors at the core of the country's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan
Tuesday 3 February 2026
South Korea eyes X-ray lithography in response to ASML's EUV grip

As global competition in semiconductor technology intensifies and protectionist trends tied to national strategy gain momentum, South Korea's industry is emphasizing the need to localize critical equipment. With chipmakers fully reliant on ASML of the Netherlands for extreme ultraviolet lithography tools, industry participants say South Korea must invest in X-ray lithography, a technology still at an early stage of development, to secure long-term competitiveness and reduce dependence on a single supplier

Tuesday 3 February 2026
Analysis: China's AI model race tightens into a three-way contest
China's large language model sector is reaching a decisive inflection point. As requirements for computing resources, capital, and specialized talent continue to climb, the industry is moving from dozens of competing models toward consolidation dominated by three major players
Tuesday 3 February 2026
Sumitomo Bakelite to acquire Kyocera unit, paving way for Chang Wah expansion
Japanese materials maker Sumitomo Bakelite has announced plans to acquire the materials business of Japanese electronic components company Kyocera. Industry observers say the companies' product lines are highly complementary, positioning the deal to deliver stronger synergies. Leveraging Kyocera's strengths in discrete and power products in China is expected to support Sumitomo Bakelite's global market expansion
Monday 2 February 2026
SMIC reportedly sets up advanced packaging research institute in Shanghai
As Intel, Samsung Electronics, and TSMC increase investment in advanced packaging, market sources say SMIC has set up an advanced packaging research organization in Shanghai, with SMIC chairman Liu Xunfeng attending the unveiling ceremony, marking a new stage in the company's advanced packaging research and development efforts