Semiconductor News 20260103

Main News

1. U.S. Approval of TSMC’s Equipment Exports to China, a Shift in Strategy?
   The U.S. government has approved TSMC’s exports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to its Chinese factories. This may reflect a shift in U.S. strategy to allow manufacturing to continue under certain conditions. The slight modification from the previous strict across-the-board restrictions to a more administrative approach means that TSMC will continue to operate in the delicate balance between the U.S. and China while maintaining a presence in the Chinese market.
2. Intel and Samsung Struggle with 2nm Yield, TSMC in Solo Position
   Intel and Samsung Electronics are developing 2nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) technology, but the low yield has not been resolved. Therefore, TSMC, with its stable mass production technology, is expected to be the only 2nm chip supplier for external customers for the time being. The technology gap may further increase the dependence on TSMC by major customers, and the company may continue to be the sole supplier in the leading-edge process market.
3. Memory Shortage to Continue in 2026 Due to AI Demand, ASUS to Suspend Smartphone Launches
   Memory shortages are expected to continue throughout 2026 due to explosive demand for AI servers. The resulting cost increases are directly impacting end products, and ASUS has indicated that it plans to suspend the launch of new smartphones in 2026. Although the company has stated that it will maintain its mobile business, rising component prices and supply difficulties are beginning to seriously impact the hardware maker’s product roadmap.
4. Samsung Leads Testing with Broadcom on HBM4 to Gain Advantage
   Samsung Electronics has reportedly led Broadcom’s system-level testing on its next-generation memory HBM4 to gain an advantage in the AI memory race. After customer validation, the company aims to begin mass production in 2026.SK Hynix had been ahead in this market, but Samsung is trying to reel in its technological prowess, and with the announcement of 7200Mbps DDR5 samples, the company is stepping up its offensive to regain memory supremacy.
5. Reorganization accelerates in China’s semiconductor industry; Hua Hong integrates H uali Micro
   Reorganization is accelerating in China’s semiconductor industry, following SMIC’s move, Hua Hong Semiconductor (Hua Hong) has acquired approximately 97.5% of Huali Micro Electronics (Huali Micro), an affiliate, and is proceeding with integration. From a state in which numerous companies are in disarray, national policy is to concentrate resources and increase the efficiency of manufacturing capacity and technology development in order to build a strong domestic supply chain capable of resisting U.S. sanctions.
6. Baidu-owned Kunlunxin and Other Chinese AI Chip Firms to IPO in Hong Kong
   Baidu’s AI chip division Kunlunxin has filed confidentially for an IPO in Hong Kong. GPU maker Biren Technology and memory giant CXMT are also accelerating their efforts to list. As U.S. export restrictions make it more difficult to raise funds from outside sources, Chinese companies are taking advantage of the Hong Kong and mainland stock markets to secure huge amounts of capital and are poised to finance R&D and capital expenditures on their own.
7. OpenAI Changes Hardware Order from Chinese Firm to Foxconn
   OpenAI has reportedly moved its first AI hardware manufacturing order from China’s Luxshare (立訊精密) to Taiwan’s Foxconn. The move is seen as aimed at avoiding geopolitical risks associated with the escalation of the U.S.-China confrontation, and is a concrete manifestation of the “derisking” trend of choosing partners with lower security risks by reducing dependence on mainland Chinese supply chains for core AI technology.
8. Micron, SanDisk in battle over PSMC factory capacity
   Micron and SanDisk are in a battle over securing production capacity at Taiwanese foundry PSMC’s Tong Luo factory. The company is urgently required to secure the existing production line and immediately increase production capacity. Since it takes time to build new factories, the current situation reflects the intensifying competition to acquire existing facilities.
9. China’s Industrial Competitiveness Surpasses Korea in Smart Cars and Semiconductors
   According to a report by the Korea Industry Research Institute, China’s competitiveness has already surpassed that of Korea in key industries such as smart cars, robots, and semiconductors, according to an analysis. In particular, Chinese companies are making remarkable strides not only in price competitiveness but also in technological capabilities, threatening the export industry, which is the backbone of the Korean economy. A sense of crisis is growing within the ROK regarding economic growth, and national measures are urgently needed.
10. Samsung SDS to Invest 427.3 Billion Won to Build AI Data Center
    Samsung SDS has decided to invest 427.3 billion won to build an AI data center in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do. The facility will be dedicated to high-performance computing (HPC) and will strengthen the foundation for AI cloud services. Samsung is also pursuing a land deal to build a semiconductor mega cluster in Yongin, and is strongly promoting the vertical integration of AI infrastructure from manufacturing to data center operations.

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