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Thursday 29 May 2025
Hanmi Semiconductor wins US$5.8 million ASE supply contract
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.
Thursday 29 May 2025
Jensen Huang: China's AI moves on with or without US chips
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.
Thursday 29 May 2025
China's 5nm workaround: DUV tricks push limits as EUV blockade bites
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.
Thursday 29 May 2025
Explainer: Why Trump's emergency tariffs were struck down, and what tariffs still remain

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.

Thursday 29 May 2025
Japan plans major US chip purchases as leverage in tariff talks
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.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Taiwan to build chip alliance with 'share values' to counter China dumping
President William Lai's initiative for a global democratic semiconductor supply chain represents Taiwan's response and commitment to the restructuring of global supply chains, according to Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will support foreign companies as they enter what Kuo describes as a golden era of partnership with Taiwan.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Samsung races to deliver HBM3E memory to Nvidia but faces certification hurdles
In the high-stakes race to supply memory for the next generation of artificial intelligence, Samsung Electronics is under mounting pressure to deliver its 12-layer HBM3E chips to Nvidia by the end of 2025. But as its self-imposed deadline approaches, uncertainty lingers over whether Samsung can meet the rigorous performance standards set by its most critical customer.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Hanmi engineers return to SK Hynix after US$30.7 million TCB order resolves dispute
The protracted dispute between Hanmi Semiconductor and SK Hynix regarding the supply of Thermo Compression Bonding (TCB) equipment has reached a resolution, with Hanmi Semiconductor confirming the return of its engineering personnel to SK Hynix's facilities. This marks a significant thaw in the strained relationship between the two industry giants, following a month-long absence of Hanmi's engineers from SK Hynix's production lines.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Huawei assembles China's Merck: Zhuhai Cornerstone to secure chipmaking materials
Huawei is reportedly supporting Zhuhai Cornerstone Technologies Co. in a strategic effort to localize chipmaking materials and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Founded in 2022, the company is emerging as a potential rival to global chemical giants including Shin-Etsu Chemical, JSR Corporation, Merck KGaA, DuPont, and Dow Chemical. As reported by Nikkei Asia, Zhuhai Cornerstone is being positioned as an "end-to-end" semiconductor chemical supplier, aligned with China's broader push for supply chain independence amid tightening US export controls.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Trump threatens new tariffs on iPhones and EU imports, raising tensions with Apple

Fresh off a triumphant Middle East tour, President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions on Thursday with a bold new proposal: imposing a 50 percent tariff on all European Union (EU) imports and a 25% levy on all smartphones not manufactured in the US.

Wednesday 28 May 2025
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.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
US chip tariffs pose biggest challenge to American firms; Trump likely to back down
The impending semiconductor chip tariff policy continues to cause concern. The semiconductor supply chain believes that if US President Donald Trump insists on imposing tariffs, it would significantly impact American IC design and equipment materials sectors, while the initial target, TSMC, would face limited disruption.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
TSMC taps Munich for AI chip push as Europe craves tech sovereignty
TSMC will open a new design center in Munich in the third quarter of 2025, strengthening its footprint in Europe and supporting the region's push for greater semiconductor self-sufficiency. The announcement was made during TSMC's 2025 Technology Symposium in Amsterdam, where company executives emphasized the center's strategic role in serving European clients.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
European startups target Asian chip industry with green manufacturing solutions
Two European cleantech companies are betting that Asia's semiconductor industry is ready to embrace environmentally-focused manufacturing technologies, as they pursue partnerships in Taiwan to scale their innovations beyond laboratory settings.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Samsung foundry secures Switch 2 chip production in major win against TSMC
Samsung Electronics has reportedly secured the production order for Nintendo's next-generation game console, the Switch 2's core chip, marking a significant turning point for its foundry business. Nintendo is adopting Samsung's 8nm process, replacing the long-standing manufacturing partnership with TSMC, which adds considerable strategic significance to Samsung's global semiconductor foundry position.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
TSMC’s message to the world: Taiwan is still the chip capital
TSMC is moving full steam ahead with its cutting-edge 2-nanometer production, reinforcing its commitment to Taiwan even as it expands globally. In a recent statement, TSMC Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer Y.P. Chyn confirmed that the company's new Fab 22 in Kaohsiung will surpass NT$1.5 trillion (US$46.2 billion) in total investment to meet surging global demand.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Indian GaN firm taps into Japan’s semiconductor ecosystem
An India-based gallium nitride (GaN) startup is exploring partnerships with Japanese companies to strengthen its technology stack and tap into Japan's advanced semiconductor supply chain, as both countries deepen strategic cooperation in tech and defense.
Wednesday 28 May 2025
Google’s AI reset: I/O 2025 marks a turning point

Following years of trailing its competitors and facing mounting skepticism, Google appeared to turn a corner at this year's I/O developer conference. Unlike previous events where the tech giant labored to explain the power of its AI models—often to the detriment of product clarity—this year's showcase offered a focused, product-forward strategy that resonated with both developers and market watchers.

Tuesday 27 May 2025
China chip industry rises under US sanctions, Taiwan suppliers pivot
While the US-China trade war has entered a tentative truce, tensions in the semiconductor sector are escalating, placing renewed scrutiny on Taiwan's IC substrate manufacturers operating in China. The unfolding dynamics raise doubts about the actual effectiveness of US chip sanctions.
Tuesday 27 May 2025
TSMC's CoWoS boom squeezes substrates, stirs NAND pricing
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC), the world's leading supplier of BT substrate base materials, has notified clients of delayed shipments due to tightening raw material supply. The growing shortage is expected to trigger mid- to long-term disruptions in the substrate supply chain. Rising gold prices and extended lead times are already inflating costs across the NAND flash controller segment, potentially benefiting suppliers like Phison Electronics and Silicon Motion Technology through higher pricing leverage.
Tuesday 27 May 2025
Samsung's impossible choice: absorb 25% tariff hit or price out US customers
US President Donald Trump's announced 25% tariff on smartphones manufactured outside the US has once again ruffled the feathers of markets, especially for Apple and Samsung Electronics, which will be caught in its direct crosshairs. The move, set to be enforced from late June 2025, is intended to pressure companies to shift their production to American soil, another attempt to fulfill Trump's long-standing campaign promise.
Tuesday 27 May 2025
Huawei's first HarmonyOS PC with 5nm Kirin X90 chip marks China's major leap in semiconductor self-sufficiency
Huawei recently unveiled its first HarmonyOS-powered computer, a significant milestone in the company's technological evolution. According to a report by China's state-run CCTV, the new PC is equipped with the cutting-edge Kirin X90 chip built on 5nm process technology, alongside Huawei's proprietary operating system, HarmonyOS. CCTV further emphasized that "domestic semiconductor devices have, for the first time, achieved a self-sustaining, complete ecosystem in terms of performance and other facets."
Tuesday 27 May 2025
Xiaomi defends XRing O1 SoC as in-house development amid 'Custom Silicon' controversy
A debate has erupted in the tech industry over the origin of Xiaomi's flagship system-on-chip (SoC), the XRing O1, with mounting questions about whether it represents a truly in-house development or a customized solution from chip designer Arm. The controversy deepened after Arm Holdings quietly revised a press release, removing the phrase "custom silicon" in reference to the chip.
Tuesday 27 May 2025
Trump 2.0: Boon or bane for Taiwan? January-April trade and output data offers some clues
Despite fresh uncertainty under Trump's second term, Taiwan's technology and trade sectors are showing surprising resilience and even growth. While his unpredictable tariff policies continue to rattle global markets, Taiwan is capitalizing on an AI-driven boom, with January-April 2025 industrial output and exports hitting new highs.
Tuesday 27 May 2025
Topco rides semiconductor rebound as wafer shipments climb, photoresist demand heats up
Topco Scientific Co. (TSC), a leading supplier of semiconductor and optoelectronics materials, anticipates a gradual rebound in the chip industry through 2025. Chairman Jeffery Pan highlighted that major clients have increased 7nm wafer input, driving utilization rates above 80%. DRAM fab utilization is also improving, while China's market remains robust, with utilization hovering around 90% or at full capacity. Pan described the 2025 industry outlook as "cautiously optimistic" and expects strong full-year results.
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