While China's biggest foundry house SMIC is still waiting for the axe to fall, specualtion has already emerged about the next targets of the US trade sanctions that threaten to nip China's semiconductor push in the bud. China's memory makers could be the next targets. Memory ASPs so far this year have been falling on weak demand and excess inventory in the wake of the pandemic, though DRAM spot prices have remained stable. But memory ASPs stand a chance of stopping falling in first-quarter 2021. The pandemic has slowed the start of the 5G era, but Chinese telecom carriers are now renewing their 5G infrastructure construction projects, reigniting momentum for CCL suppliers.
China memory chipmakers could be next US trade ban target: With Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC) at risk of being blacklisted by the US government, concerns are growing about whether China-based memory chipmakers ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) will be the next trade ban target.
Memory ASPs may stop falling in 1Q21: Memory ASPs are likely to fall through the fourth quarter of 2020, but there are signs that they will stabilize in the following quarter, according to sources at memory module makers.
CCL makers to see shipments bolstered by new 5G infrastructure projects in China: Taiwan-based Iteq and Taiwan Union Technology (TUC) expect their shipments of high-frequency and high-speed CCLs for 5G base station applications to regain momentum in fourth-quarter 2020, thanks to Chinese telecoms renewing infrastructure construction projects, according to industry sources.
