Semiconductor News 20260306

Main News

1. NVIDIA to halt production of H200 for China and move to next-generation machines
   NVIDIA will reportedly halt production of its H200 AI chip for China due to uncertainty in the Chinese market. Accordingly, TSMC’s valuable production capacity will be redirected to the next-generation AI chip, Vera Rubin. As U.S. export restrictions to China continue, NVIDIA is reassessing its response to the uncertain Chinese market and making a strategic shift to focus resources on mass production of its next-generation architecture, for which demand is tightening worldwide.
2. DRAM Shortage Growing, Price Spikes and Supply-Demand Tightness to Continue through 2028
   According to a report by Nanyatech and others, a surge in AI demand is causing a persistent supply shortage in the DRAM market, with prices rising monthly starting in the first quarter and expected to spike sharply in the second quarter. This supply shortage is expected to continue until 2028, and the pressure on procurement funds could destabilize the industry cycle. On the other hand, memory manufacturers are anticipating improved earnings and are accelerating investments to expand production capacity.
3. U. S. to Ban Use of Chinese Chips in Federal Procurement
   The U.S. government is moving forward with plans to ban the use of certain Chinese semiconductor chips in federal procurement after December 2027. This measure reflects the struggle for technological supremacy between the U.S. and China and is part of a move to exclude Chinese products from the supply chain due to security concerns. On the other hand, analysts point out that this tightening of regulations will provide a powerful tailwind for Korean semiconductor manufacturers such as Samsung and SK Hynix to expand their market share.
4. Major Asian Semiconductor Firms ‘ Capital Expenditures Reach Record Highs ; Price Hikes Spreading
   Capital expenditures by major Asian semiconductor firms have reached record highs on the back of robust demand for AI semiconductors. In the Chinese market, the mood for semiconductor price hikes is also spreading due to rising costs and exploding demand. Price hikes are spreading not only to foundries and memory manufacturers, which are responsible for cutting-edge processes, but also to mid- and small-sized supply chain companies, and structural upward pressure on component costs is intensifying throughout the electronics industry.
5. Broadcom’s AI Semiconductor Sales Doubles, Targets $100 Billion by 2027
   Broadcom’s fiscal year 2026 first quarter results saw AI semiconductor sales double, and its overall semiconductor business grew an impressive 65 percent year over year. Backed by six major customers, including Google and Meta, the company has set a goal of increasing AI chip-related sales to $100 billion by 2027, consolidating its dominance in the custom ASIC market, including through its 3.5D AI chip collaboration with TSMC.
6. Intel Reconsidering 18A Process Strategy with Eye on Opening Up to Outside Customers
   Intel is reportedly reconsidering its strategy for its leading-edge 18A process after CEO Pat Gelsinger expressed a positive attitude toward opening up the process to outside foundry customers. It has also been suggested that the company’s advanced packaging technology, EMIB, could generate billions of dollars in revenue in the second half of 2026. This move is aimed at reinvigorating its position in the foundry market by strengthening its competitiveness in the contract manufacturing business as well as in its own manufacturing.
7. Escalating Conflict in the Middle East Causes U.S. Stocks to Plunge, Pressure on Smartphone Logistics
   The escalating situation in the Middle East, including conflicts between the United States and Iran and Israel, has caused oil prices to soar, causing the Dow Jones Industrial Average of 30 stocks to plummet by over $1,000 at one point on the U.S. stock market. The geopolitical tensions have also spilled over into the technology industry, creating new pressures of logistical disruptions and rising transportation costs in the global smartphone market. The risk of supply chain disruptions has increased, and there are concerns about the negative impact on the performance of high-tech companies.
8. Apple to Build U.S. Chip Supply Chain through TSMC and Foxconn
   Apple is strengthening its ties with its main suppliers TSMC and Foxconn in order to fully establish a semiconductor supply chain in the United States. This move is in response to the reduction of geopolitical risks and the U.S. government’s policy of returning to domestic manufacturing, and is being promoted to establish state-of-the-art chip manufacturing and assembly facilities in the United States. This is an indication of the company’s strategy to avoid concentration of production in certain regions and to make its global supply chain more robust.
9. Samsung Electronics Returns to DRAM Market Share Leadership; Demand for NAND Also Surges
   Samsung Electronics has returned to the No. 1 position in the DRAM market for the fourth quarter of 2025, according to TrendForce research. Overall market sales also grew significantly, up 29.4 percent quarter-over-quarter. In the NAND flash market as well, the combined sales of the top five companies grew 24 percent on the back of AI demand. As the world’s semiconductor companies continue to post record profits, the earning power of the major memory makers is closing in on NVIDIA.
10. Google’s “Space Data Center” Initiative Using Proprietary Semiconductors
    Google has revealed that it is working on a grand initiative to build a “Space Data Center” by flying satellites equipped with its proprietary semiconductors in formation. The aim is to create a next-generation cloud infrastructure that can be accessed from anywhere in the world with low latency by deploying massive computing resources and data storage in space, free from the constraints of terrestrial infrastructure. The stage for infrastructure investment by giant IT companies is expanding from the earth to outer space.

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