Semiconductor News 20260101

Main News

1. Samsung to Increase HBM Production Capacity by 50% by 2026
   Samsung Electronics reportedly plans to expand its HBM (high-bandwidth memory) production capacity, which is essential for AI chips, by 50% from the current level by 2026.To meet strong demand from key customers such as Nvidia, the company is accelerating capital investment Nvidia and other key customers. The recovery in the memory market and demand for AI are also expected to provide a strong boost to the company’s performance, with operating income expected to surpass 20 trillion won in the fourth quarter of 2025.
2. China’ s CXMT Considers $4.2 Billion IPO in Shanghai to Expand Memory
   Chinese memory maker CXMT (Changjiang Zunyue) is considering an initial public offering (IPO) in the Shanghai market to raise funds to expand production capacity. The amount to be raised could reach approximately $4.2 billion (approximately 600 billion yen). Although China’s semiconductor industry is under U.S. sanctions, the country is accelerating its move toward self-sufficiency by utilizing the domestic capital market to secure funds and strengthen its manufacturing base for DRAM and other products.
3. ASUS , Others Raise PC Prices as Memory Prices Soar, AI Inflation Spreads
   ASUS has announced that it will raise the prices of some of its PC products starting January 5 in response to a sharp rise in memory and SSD costs, a move that follows Dell’s announcement that memory supply shortages caused by demand for AI servers are beginning to be passed on to consumer product prices. The shortage of memory supply due to demand for AI servers has begun to be passed on to the prices of consumer products as well. There are also predictions that the price of GPUs such as the RTX 5090 will reach $5,000 by 2026 due to AI demand, increasing inflationary pressure on the hardware market as a whole.
4. China Mandates “50% Domestic” Equipment for New Semiconductor Factories
   The Chinese government has reportedly mandated that new semiconductor production lines to be built in the country must have at least 50% of their manufacturing equipment produced domestically. This is a strong industrial policy to counter U.S. export restrictions and to promote supply chain de-dependence on the U.S. While this will provide a tailwind for Chinese domestic equipment manufacturers, it may make it more difficult for foreign manufacturers to maintain their share of the Chinese market.
5. SoftBank G Masayoshi Son intensifies offensive with “ All in” bet on AI
   SoftBank Group’s Masayoshi Son has made his “All in” bet on AI so clear that the company’s trading value in 2025 is a whopping 48 trillion yen. This strategy has been well received by the market, and the company has regained the top spot in the telecommunications sector by market capitalization. The company is rapidly accelerating its investment in AI through the acquisition of U.S. investment funds and deepening its collaboration with OpenAI, and has placed AI at the core of the group’s overall growth strategy for 2026.
6. TSMC Arizona 3nm Acceleration and Samsung Texas Customer Competition
   TSMC is accelerating its plans to introduce a 3nm process at its Arizona plant in the US. TSMC is also accelerating the development of its 1.4nm process in Taiwan, and is facing the difficult task of responding to geopolitical imperatives while simultaneously pursuing technological leadership and the decentralization of its manufacturing bases. TSMC is also rushing to develop its 1.4nm process in Taiwan.
7. Southeast Asia Becomes New Hub for AI and Data Centers in Response to Geopolitical Risk
   Southeast Asia is emerging as a new global hub for data centers, manufacturing, and AI in the wake of geopolitical tensions, including the U.S.-China conflict. Global companies looking to diversify their supply chains are increasing their investments in Malaysia and Vietnam. In addition to the region’s inexpensive power and labor, the region is valued for its neutrality and is rapidly becoming a hub for a broad range of tech industries, including everything from semiconductor manufacturing to AI infrastructure.
8. Micron Considering Acquisition of Taiwan’s PSMC Plant
   U.S. memory giant Micron is reportedly considering the acquisition of a 12-inch plant owned by Taiwanese foundry PSMC (Liyu Jindian). The move comes amid interest from several partners. Micron is in a hurry to secure advanced memory manufacturing capacity such as HBM, and it is believed that by acquiring the existing plant, the company aims to shorten the construction period and strengthen its production system in Taiwan.
9. Rapidus, Active in “Semiconductor x Optical” but 2026 is a critical year
   For Japan’s Rapidus, 2026 is a critical year as the company prepares to begin mass production in 2027. The company positions “optoelectronic fusion” technology, which replaces electrical signals with optical signals, as the key to next-generation semiconductors, and is working with Tohoku University and others to achieve higher functionality. The question is whether the company can maintain its massive investment and development speed amid the high technological hurdles it faces, and the challenge to revive Japan’s semiconductor industry is entering a critical phase.
10. M&A Activity in China’s Semiconductor Industry Increases; Unigroup Guowei and Others Considering Acquisitions
    Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is increasing in China’s semiconductor industry. Unigroup Guowei and other companies are considering acquisitions of leading small and medium-sized companies (Senmin Tokushin), and the industry is undergoing a reorganization. The goal is to shift from a state of many small companies in disarray to an industry structure that can resist U.S. sanctions by strengthening competitiveness and concentrating resources through consolidation by large, well-capitalized companies.

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