Semiconductor News 20260108

Main News

1. Nvidia “Vera Rubin” Mass Production Begins and Confidence in HBM4 Exclusivity
   Nvidia’s next-generation GPU architecture, Vera Rubin, has entered full mass production, and with it Micron is reportedly betting on expanding HBM4 production capacity for 2026. CEO Jensen Huang dismissed concerns about memory supply and emphasized the exclusive use of HBM4; demand for H200 also remains high, and the company is poised to maintain its dominant position in the AI hardware market while making a strong transition to the next-generation technology.
2. Memory “Super Cycle” Arrives, Apple and CSPs Fight for Supply
   Anticipating a sharp rise in memory prices due to AI demand, Apple has reportedly secured NAND flash supply through 2026. The supply contract for 2027 is already being fought over. Concerns about supply shortages throughout the market are causing tension throughout the supply chain, as PC makers rush to launch new products.
3. China’s SMEE Reorganizes Assets, Accelerates Domestic Production of Lithography
   Chinese semiconductor equipment-related company AMIES has acquired all of the subsidiary shares of Shanghai Microelectronics Equipment (SMEE) through an asset reorganization to strengthen its promotion of lithography technology. This is a move to counter U.S. export controls and accelerate domestic production of lithography equipment, the core of the semiconductor manufacturing process. By concentrating capital and technological resources, we are rushing to build our own supply chain and increase self-sufficiency.
4. Samsung P5 Plant to Go Live in 2028; SDS Achieves Results in AI
   Samsung Electronics is accelerating construction of its Pyeongtaek Plant 5 (P5), aiming to go live in 2028. This is in preparation for future DRAM demand growth. In addition, subsidiary Samsung SDS expects concrete results from its cooperation with Nvidia and OpenAI in the first quarter of 2026. With the expansion of manufacturing capacity and the results of collaboration in the area of AI cloud services, the company is increasing its offensive throughout the ecosystem.
5. China Suggests Rare Earth Retaliation, Rekindling Geopolitical Risk
   Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly suggested retaliatory measures against Japan by restricting exports of rare earths (REEs). South Korean media are also becoming increasingly alarmed that this will be a test for their country. There are growing concerns that the key minerals essential for semiconductors and high-tech products will once again be used as a diplomatic card, and geopolitical risk in the supply chain is the biggest concern for industries in neighboring countries, including Japan and South Korea.
6. Apple’s Indian Exports Surpass $50 Billion, Accelerating De-China
   Apple’s iPhone exports from India exceeded $50 billion by December 2025, just four years after entering the PLI (production-linked incentives) program. The Indian government has also approved 22 more electronic component projects, and the supply chain is rapidly moving away from dependence on China. India is establishing itself as a major hub for global electronics manufacturing.
7. AMD “YottaScale” Proposed, but Reusing Older Models Due to Soaring DDR5 Prices
   AMD CEO Lisa Su predicted at CES 2026 that AI computation will reach “YottaScale”. At the same time, the company is reportedly considering bringing back older-generation Zen 3 chips to keep costs down in response to the current surge in DDR5 memory prices. The company is faced with the duality of pursuing cutting-edge AI performance while at the same time adopting a pragmatic product strategy to keep pace with inflation in the general PC market.
8. Sony “Optoelectronic Fusion” Sets Sights on Humanoid Robots
   The CTO of Sony Semiconductor Solutions cited “optoelectronic fusion,” “analog,” and “lamination” as strategies for the next 10 years, with particular strength in technologies for humanoid robots. nvidia CEO also at CES. Japanese companies’ technological capabilities could play an important role in vision and sensor technologies that support the physicality of AI.
9. TSMC Reveals “Secrets” for Countering Seismic Risk and U.S. Appointments
   TSMC has unveiled technical details for countering seismic risk. The company aims to demonstrate the stability of its production in Taiwan through advanced seismic isolation equipment and structural reinforcement. The company also appointed a new finance director for its Arizona subsidiary. By improving transparency and strengthening our organizational structure against both geopolitical and natural disaster risks, we are striving to maintain the trust of our global customers.
10. AI Inflation” in the PC market, soaring prices make upgrading difficult
    While companies are introducing new products at CES 2026, memory shortages and rising prices are casting a shadow over the market. Demand for Nvidia products is strong, but “AI inflation” may be a drag on market penetration as higher component costs begin to be passed on to end-product prices.

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