Semiconductor News 20260119

Main News

1. U.S . “100% tariffs if no investment” statement hits South Korea’s semiconductor industry
   The U.S. government has sent a strong message to semiconductor companies in South Korea that it will impose 100% tariffs on them if they do not actively invest in the United States. In response, South Korea’s semiconductor industry is struggling to respond, highlighting the current situation in which the Trump administration’s “Season 2” tariff war is bearing down not only on Greenland and Iran, but also on the main industry of our ally, South Korea.
2. Trump demands 40% of Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain be moved to the U.S.
   Trump’s demand that the Taiwan region move 40% of its semiconductor supply chain to the U.S. has sparked a debate on the island. Some critics have heavily criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for its weak stance toward the U.S. and for sacrificing the future of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. This move has caused strong alarm in the business community, as it could lead to the hollowing out of Taiwan’s industry.
3. SK Hynix is moving the axis of its advanced packaging base from South Korea to Indiana, U.S.
   SK Hynix is accelerating the deployment of advanced packaging processes from South Korea to Indiana, U.S., to meet the demand for AI semiconductors such as HBM. This move is in line with the U.S. government’s desire to strengthen the supply chain in the U.S. and is intended to diversify geopolitical risks and ensure proximity to U.S. tech companies, which are major customers. Global reorganization of production systems is underway.
4. SK Hynix Completes Transition to 1a Nanometer DRAM at Wuxi, China
   SK Hynix has reportedly completed an upgrade to 1a nanometer generation DRAM using miniaturization technology at its manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China. The technology upgrade is noteworthy amid ongoing U.S. export restrictions to China. Meanwhile, Korean firms have signed intellectual property protection agreements for displays and DRAMs, but technology outflows to China remain a serious challenge.
5. 70% of Memory Chips Manufactured in 2026 Will Be Consumed by Data Centers
   The thirst for computing power due to the AI boom is dramatically changing the structure of memory demand. This supply imbalance could cause chip shortages in other sectors, and there is concern that this could spread to consumer products, for example. Infrastructure investment is clearly overheating.
6. Qualcomm Moves Ahead with RISC-V Investment and Ventana Deal to Break Dep endence on Arm
   Qualcomm is making a serious investment in RISC-V technology to reduce its dependence on the traditional Arm architecture. The Ventana deal in particular represents this strategy and is aimed at increasing its own semiconductor design capabilities. a tectonic shift is taking place in the semiconductor design arena as the company seeks to strengthen its competitive position in the PC and server markets and secure advantages in licensing fees and design flexibility.
7. China’s rare earth export restrictions risk pushing down Japan’s GDP by 1.3%
   There is growing concern that China’s stance toward Japan will shift from intimidation to a substantial “sanctions enforcement” phase, and it has been estimated that if rare earth export restrictions were to take effect, Japan’s real GDP would decline by 1.3% in 2026. This represents a serious downside risk to the Japanese economy in 2026, and there is an urgent need to make the supply chain less dependent on China and to secure alternative materials. Economic and security tensions are on the rise.
8. Global Semiconductor Sales Hit Record Highs for 7th Consecutive Month in November 2025
   Global semiconductor sales hit record highs for the seventh consecutive month in November 2025, driven by demand for AI and data centers, and the market is experiencing unprecedented buoyancy. Relatedly, semiconductor-related ETFs and materials suppliers’ stock prices are also on the rise, and investment money is concentrated in the Chinese market in particular, with many semiconductor materials concept stocks hitting new highs. The entire industry is in the midst of a super cycle.
9. Practical Application of Quantum Sensors Using Room Temperature Semiconductor Pulse Technology in Wenjiang, China
   A breakthrough in quantum sensor technology has been reported in Wenjiang, China. It is based on semiconductor pulse technology that operates in a room-temperature environment and is considered the world’s first practical application project. Quantum technology is a core technology for next-generation computational processing and communications, and the report suggests that China is steadily advancing industrial applications of its own technology amid the ongoing technological hegemony battle with the United States.
10. Photoelectric fusion technology and AI demand combine to grow into a huge multi-trillion yen market
    Photoelectric fusion technology, which fuses electrical and optical signals, is forming a multi-trillion yen market as a result of the explosive spread of AI. It is attracting attention as the key to achieving high-speed, low-power data transmission within data centers, and technological development is accelerating. In addition, the fusion of advanced materials development and AI is progressing, with Fujitsu and Tohoku University using AI to analyze superconducting materials, and the foundations for next-generation infrastructure are being solidified.

News List