CONNECT WITH US
May 28
Samsung Foundry breaks through: eyes Sony and AMD orders after securing Nintendo
Samsung Electronics' foundry division is making strides following its successful acquisition of Nintendo's 8nm process orders. The division, led by Jinman Han, is now actively pursuing major technology clients for its 2nm process, aiming to revitalize its semiconductor foundry business.
China's semiconductor sector was abuzz in late May 2025 by reports that Siemens EDA received a notice from the US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) instructing it to halt all electronic design automation (EDA) services and support to Chinese clients. Several Chinese media outlets and local industry sources alleged that Siemens had already begun blocking regional access to its technical websites.

On May 28, 2025, AMD announced the acquisition of Enosemi, a Silicon Valley-based company specializing in photonic integrated circuits. The move is aimed at accelerating AMD's development of co-packaged optics technologies to support next-generation AI systems.

Winbond Electronics chairman Arthur Yu-Cheng Chiao predicted a long-term, possibly lifelong, appreciation of the New Taiwan dollar (NTD), citing changes in global interest rate dynamics and Taiwan's growing economic strength. Speaking at the company's annual shareholders' meeting, Chiao warned that every NT$1 appreciation against the US dollar could reduce Winbond's profits by about NT$0.05, prompting a renewed strategic focus on secure memory, artificial intelligence, and environmental sustainability.
Taiwan-based leadframe maker Chang Wah Technology (CWTC) is upbeat about 2025 as demand recovers, and will continue to expand its production capacity in Malaysia, according to company chairman Chuen-Sing Hung.
Hanmi Semiconductor has secured a major supply agreement with Taiwan's ASE Technology Holding Co., marking another strategic win in its global expansion drive. Under the contract, Hanmi will export semiconductor back-end process equipment valued at approximately KRW8 billion (US$5.83 million) to Taiwan.
Nvidia Corp. today reported robust financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2026, with revenue reaching US$44 billion, a 69% increase year-over-year. However, the company highlighted the significant and immediate impact of new US government export controls on its data center business in China, affecting both the past quarter's performance and future outlook.
Huawei's HiSilicon and Lenovo have reignited global debate over China's semiconductor ambitions by launching AI PCs and tablets powered by 5nm chips, despite the country's lack of access to advanced EUV lithography equipment. Huawei's Kirin X90 was unveiled in a high-profile spot on CCTV, while Lenovo's self-developed 5nm SS1101 SoC surfaced quietly inside the new YOGA Pad Pro 14.5 with minimal fanfare. The contrast reflects not just divergent publicity tactics, but different survival strategies under China's chipmaking constraints.

A federal court ruling this week has dealt a significant blow to President Donald Trump's trade agenda, suspending a wide array of tariffs he had imposed through emergency executive powers. The decision invalidates the "reciprocal" tariffs announced on April 2, which had triggered volatility in global markets and raised fears of a renewed trade war.

Nvidia today announced robust financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, reporting significant year-over-year and sequential growth, driven primarily by its Data Center segment.

Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board Corporation (Nanya PCB), a top Taiwanese IC substrate maker, cautioned that second-quarter earnings may miss forecasts, citing the sharp rise of the New Taiwan dollar and policy uncertainty surrounding President Trump's proposed reciprocal tariffs. At the May 27 shareholders meeting, Chairman Chia-chau Wu noted that AI-related substrate demand has kept Taiwan's capacity running at high levels, outperforming China, but rising currency pressures and trade tensions are now dragging on export sales.

In ongoing tariff negotiations between Japan and the US, the Japanese government has proposed purchasing semiconductor products from American manufacturers worth several billion US dollars. This move aims to serve as a bargaining chip for reducing the US trade deficit with Japan.
DTexhi
iPhone economics, disrupted
The rise of top 10 IC design houses in China