China plans to prohibit non-state companies from mining rare earths, further tightening its control over a strategic sector that has emerged as a battleground in its trade war with the US

Samsung Display (SDC) and China's BOE are targeting Apple's next-generation OLED device market through investments in 8.6-generation IT OLED production lines. However, South Korean market analysts predict that SDC will likely become the exclusive supplier of OLED panels for Apple's MacBook series launching in 2026, citing BOE's potential challenges in achieving satisfactory initial yield rates

Baidu's fourth-quarter revenue fell 2% to CNY34.1 billion (approx. US$4.68 billion) as China's search giant grapples with intensifying competition in artificial intelligence and a weakening digital advertising market

SMIC is advancing the second phase of its Beijing wafer fab, set to break ground in early 2025. The project, expected to be the city's largest logic IC foundry, comes with a total investment of at least CNY50 billion (approx. US$6.86 billion)

AZAPA, a Japanese automotive development and design startup, is set to launch its semi-solid-state battery system by 2025, primarily aimed at electric vehicles (EVs) technology. This innovative system combines AZAPA's proprietary control technology with semi-solid batteries produced by the Chinese battery manufacturer Anwa, whose technology is licensed from the American startup 24M Technologies

South Korea has moved to shut down the artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek, citing data privacy concerns tied to its links with Chinese tech giant ByteDance. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said the app would be removed from Google Play and Apple's App Store at 6 pm local time on February 15, 2025

Huawei officially unveiled its Mate XT, the world's first tri-fold smartphone, at a launch event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 18, 2025. The company announced plans for a global rollout, with availability depending on market conditions and specific countries to be determined. The device has already been launched in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

South Korean panel manufacturers see potential benefits from the Trump administration's consideration of additional display tariffs, as higher prices for Chinese LCD products could strengthen the position of South Korea's OLED and premium display offerings. However, Trump's recent announcement regarding Apple's tariff exemptions presents risks for the company's primary iPhone display supplier

China's memory industry is making remarkable progress, substantially closing the technology gap with South Korea in DRAM and NAND flash manufacturing. The country has also achieved significant breakthroughs in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for AI-driven computing

Nikon plans to introduce a new ArF immersion lithography system platform in fiscal year 2028 (April 2028 - March 2029) that offers compatibility with ASML equipment, marking a strategic move to challenge the market leader's dominance in semiconductor manufacturing

China recently unveiled a series of subsidy policies targeting consumer electronics and home appliances to stimulate domestic consumption. Beyond the central government's efforts, provinces across the country have introduced additional subsidies of varying sizes. The move aims to bolster consumer spending amid an economic slowdown

Amid intensifying competition in the mature-node segment, Hua Hong Semiconductor is pivoting toward higher-value process technologies. The company posted a fourth quarter of 2024 net loss of US$25.2 million, a stark contrast to the US$35.4 million profit a year earlier, according to HKET. Management attributed the loss primarily to foreign exchange fluctuations, with basic earnings per share at US$-0.015

Baidu Inc. reported a smaller-than-expected revenue drop, alleviating concerns its internet search and artificial intelligence businesses are buckling under fierce competition

SK Hynix is reportedly expanding its production of fifth-generation, 12-layer HBM3E, with Hanmi Semiconductor and ASMPT expected to lead in equipment orders. Hanmi is set for growth in the expanding market, fueled by increased Micron investment in HBM. However, the rise of DeepSeek could create uncertainties in the HBM market, potentially affecting equipment demand

Despite aspirations to become a comprehensive semiconductor powerhouse, South Korea's global semiconductor market share remains at a mere 3%. The government is launching a major initiative to cultivate local talent and foster a thriving ecosystem