Semiconductor News 20251218

Main News

1. Samsung Wins Intel 8nm Process Order Following Nvidia’s
   Samsung Foundry has reportedly won an 8nm process manufacturing order from Intel, following an order from Nvidia. Intel, which is pursuing its IDM 2.0 strategy, is using outsourcing as well. While competition in the leading-edge node is intensifying, Samsung is steadily expanding its customer base in the near-mature process area, which is an important move for the company to improve its utilization rate and regain market share in the foundry market.
2. Rapidus Unveils Glass Substrate Interposer to Compete with TSMC
   Rapidus of Japan has unveiled a prototype glass substrate interposer, a next-generation packaging technology designed to compete with TSMC, with production expected to begin in 2028. We are also exploring panel-level packaging on glass substrates, which enable finer wiring and higher performance than conventional organic substrates. The company also aims to establish technological superiority in back-end process technology and complete the manufacturing ecosystem for cutting-edge semiconductors in Japan.
3. Intel Completes Installation of Industry’s First Commercial High-NA EU V Lithography System
   Intel has completed installation of the industry’s first commercial High-NA EUV lithography system from ASML. This is an important milestone for the development and volume production of Intel’s next-generation 14A process. With the installation of this equipment, which pushes the physical limits of miniaturization, Intel seeks to regain process technology leadership from TSMC and Samsung and establish manufacturing capabilities for the angstrom era.
4. Nvidia H200 Supply Instability Disrupts China’s Comp uting Strategy
   Instability in the supply of Nvidia’s H200 AI chip is disrupting the computing strategy being pursued by Chinese state-owned companies. In response, startups in China, such as MetaX, are moving to IPO in Shanghai, and the movement toward substitution by domestically produced GPUs is gaining momentum. The “AI chip wars” are intensifying as China seeks to build its own AI semiconductor ecosystem by exploiting gaps in U.S. regulations and supply constraints.
5. Apple Promotes In-House AI Chips for 2027 Server Deployment
   Apple is reportedly pushing hard to develop in-house AI chips for deployment in its data center servers by 2027. This is intended to reduce dependence on external suppliers and optimize the cost of operating AI services. It is also reported that longtime partner Foxconn could benefit from this server manufacturing, as vertical integration by Big Tech is progressing to the infrastructure layer.
6. NAND Prices Soar 246% Since the Beginning of the Year, Warning of Further Price Increases
   Memory module giant Kingston has warned that NAND flash prices have soared 246% since the beginning of 2025. Additional price hikes are also suggested in the future, seriously affecting the cost structure of SSDs and other storage products. The combination of manufacturers’ production cutbacks and exploding demand for AI data centers has put the memory market in a phase of unprecedented supply tightness and price increases.
7. Micron Results Strong; AI Demand Boosts Operating Income
   Micron Technology announced financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, showing a significant increase in revenue and profit on the back of AI demand. Operating income showed a dramatic year-on-year improvement and has been described as an “Earning Surprise,” with continued strong demand for HBM and SSDs for data centers, and financial results confirming that the semiconductor memory market is in the midst of a super-cycle.
8. SK Hynix to Use $340 Million State Loan to Increase HBM Production
   SK Hynix will reportedly use a $340 million state loan program to expand its production capacity of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is essential for AI chips. Amid the intensifying battle for leadership in the HBM market, SK Hynix is accelerating capital investment and strengthening its supply structure at a rapid pace, with government support, in order to fend off the pursuit by Samsung and Micron.
9. Texas Instruments Begins Production at New 300mm Plant in Texas
   Texas Instruments (TI) has begun production at its new 300mm wafer-capable semiconductor manufacturing facility in Sherman, Texas, USA. This will significantly expand the company’s analog and embedded processing chip manufacturing capacity, with plans to operate up to four more plants at the site in the future. This is a move to localize the supply chain and prepare for long-term demand growth while addressing geopolitical risks. , , , , , , and
10. Honda Motor suspends or cuts production at plants in China and Japan due to semiconductor shortage
    Honda Motor (Honda) will reportedly suspend or cut production at its plants in China and Japan due to a semiconductor shortage. While the market for cutting-edge AI chips is booming, the supply chain for specific-use semiconductors, such as those for automobiles, remains vulnerable, highlighting the current situation that is directly impacting the real economy and the automotive industry’s production plans.

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