Semiconductor News 20260227

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1. NVIDIA Posts Record Revenues, Allaying AI Investment Bubble Concerns
   NVIDIA’s revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 reached a record high, up 73 percent year over year and up 65 percent for the year as well. The strong quarterly results and high guidance allayed concerns about the AI investment bubble that had been whispered in the market. On the other hand, there was a mix of hope and caution among investors in the U.S. stock market, with NVIDIA shares temporarily down 6 percent due to AI concerns.
2. Samsung to Exit 2D NAND Business, Convert to Advanced DRAM Production
   Samsung Electronics will reportedly exit its final 2D NAND production line as early as March, withdrawing completely from the business. The corresponding Line 12 facility in Hwaseong will be converted to a final processing plant for next-generation 1c DRAM. This is seen as a strategic shift to optimize production resources by strengthening the company’s focus on high-value-added memory for AI, for which demand is rapidly increasing.
3. Apple Secures DRAM from Samsung at Double Price Amid Soaring Memory Prices
   As global memory prices continue to soar, Apple has reportedly secured DRAM supplies from Samsung at double the previous price. It appears that the company is also considering the possibility of using Chinese-made memory as a bargaining chip. On the other hand, Samsung’s next smartphone, the Galaxy S26, will share DRAM supply with Micron on a 50/50 basis as a cost measure, and companies are struggling to procure memory.
4. SambaNova Raises $350 Million to Develop AI Chip to Compete with Nvidia
   AI semiconductor startup SambaNova Systems has raised $350 million in new funding to develop a new AI inference chip targeting Nvidia’s B200 The new chip is five times faster than its predecessor. The new chip is said to be five times faster than its predecessor and aims to enter the market with a solution that enables faster and more efficient inference processing to compete with Nvidia’s dominant share of the AI infrastructure market.
5. SK Hynix and Sandisk Launch Standardization of Next-Generation Memory HBF
   SK Hynix and Sandisk have launched a global standardization effort for HBF (High-Bandwidth Fabric), which is expected to be the next-generation standard for the current mainstream HBM. The HBF market is expected to expand rapidly by 2030, and major memory makers are now in a full-scale battle for the leadership of memory for next-generation AI infrastructure and the creation of an ecosystem.
6. Several Chinese Power Semiconductor Manufacturers to Raise Prices by More Than 10 Percent Starting in March
   Several Chinese power semiconductor manufacturers have announced plans to raise the prices of their products starting in March. The price increase is expected to reach at least 10 percent. The price revisions are reportedly due to rising raw material costs and tight production capacities. While demand for power semiconductors for electric vehicles and industrial equipment is firm, the cost increase is affecting the entire supply chain.
7. Chinese Team Achieves Important Technological Breakthrough in Semiconductor Star Materials Research
   A Chinese research team has reportedly achieved and successfully demonstrated an important breakthrough in star materials research in the semiconductor field. While U.S. export restrictions limit access to advanced semiconductor technology, China is focusing on basic research and the development of new materials, and is making steady progress toward domestic production to build a self-sustaining semiconductor supply chain.
8. Malaysian Government Launches Investigation Over Arm Deal
   Malaysian authorities have reportedly launched an investigation related to a deal with British company Arm. The investigation appears to be taking place against a backdrop of seizures, arrests, and the political fallout associated with them. Since the case involves Arm, a world leader in semiconductor design IP, it may affect the business environment in Malaysia, which aims to become a hub of the semiconductor industry in Southeast Asia, and its relationship with multinational companies.
9. Japan Supports Expansion of India’s Semiconductor Industry, from Manufacturing Equipment to Human Resources
   As India is making a national effort to foster its semiconductor industry and attract manufacturing bases, Japan is leading the expansion. Cooperative arrangements are being established in a wide range of fields, from the supply of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to human resource development for engineers. India’s fiscal year budget also shows priority investment in semiconductors and manufacturing, and a new global supply chain is expected to be established through Japan-India collaboration.
10. ROHM Forms Alliance with TSMC to Establish Integrated Production System for GaN Power Semiconductors
    ROHM, a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, has signed a technology license agreement with TSMC, the world’s largest foundry, to establish an integrated production system for GaN (gallium nitride) power semiconductors, the next-generation compound semiconductor, within the group. The company has concluded a technology license agreement with TSMC, the world’s largest foundry, to establish an integrated production system for GaN power semiconductors within the Group. In anticipation of growing demand for GaN devices that enable highly efficient power conversion, ROHM aims to strengthen its competitiveness in mass production by incorporating world-class manufacturing technology.

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