Semiconductor News 20260109

Main News

1. Samsung Electronics Surpasses 20 Trillion Won in Operating Profit and Discussions with Nvidia and Qualcomm
   Samsung Electronics’ fourth quarter operating profit hit 20 trillion won ($2.1 trillion), up 208% from the same period last year, thanks to a recovery in the memory market and a turnaround in foundry operations. In addition, it was suggested that the company may hold discussions with Nvidia regarding next-generation memory (HBM4) at CES 2026, and it was also reported that the company is discussing 2nm chip production with Qualcomm. Along with the rapid recovery of its business performance, the company’s offensive to acquire key customers in the field of advanced technologies is becoming clearer.
2. Micron to Break Ground on Largest U.S. Memory Plant in New York
   Micron Technology announced that, after years of delay, it will break ground on what will be the largest memory chip plant in the United States in New York State on January 16. The construction of this “mega-fab” is a symbolic project to strengthen the company’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity in the U.S. With memory supplies tightening due to AI demand, this is a strategic step to establish a North American supply base and address future demand growth and geopolitical risks.
3. AI Storage Shortage to Deepen, DRAM and NAND Prices to Soar up to 70%
   An “AI storage crunch” is predicted in 2026, with a shortage of AI storage chips and prices for DRAM and NAND flash rising up to 70%, largely due to inventory buildup by AI servers; DDR 5 memory prices are soaring and buyers in China are losing momentum to the extent that “one box is equivalent to the price of a house in Shanghai,” putting strong inflationary pressure on the overall hardware market.
4. TSMC halts new 3nm starts, directs customers to 2nm, invests heavily in mature plants
   TSMC is reportedly halting new 3nm process project starts and directing customers to the higher-performance 2nm process for cost optimization. Meanwhile, the company is investing billions of dollars in refurbishing its mature process (12-inch) factory in Taiwan. The company is pursuing an ambidextrous management strategy of maintaining its technological advantage at the leading edge while also increasing the competitiveness of its legacy products, for which demand remains firm.
5. Prototype EUV Lithography Equipment Begins Operation in Shenzhen, Countering the “Silicon Curtain”
   A prototype EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography equipment has reportedly begun operation in Shenzhen, China. This is a significant breakthrough in China’s fight against the “Silicon Curtain,” the technology blockade of Western countries. China’s semiconductor industry is also experiencing an IPO boom, with 10 companies successfully listed and 85 in negotiations. The state-led concentration of capital and technology, domestic production of manufacturing equipment, and supply chain independence are proceeding at a rapid pace.
6. Nvidia Rumored to Tighten Payment Terms and Suspend Orders for H200 Sales to China
   Nvidia has reportedly tightened payment terms for sales of its H200 AI chip to China, including requiring full payment in advance. While this may have been approved by Chinese authorities, there are also reports that Beijing has asked domestic companies to stop placing orders for H200. At the forefront of the U.S.-China technology hegemony battle, Nvidia is caught between enforcing compliance and securing the market, and the business environment is becoming increasingly uncertain.
7. Canon’s “NAND Shortage” Provides Commercial Opportunity; Sony Goes Robot with “Photoelectric Fusion”
   Japanese companies are also stepping up their offensive in response to special demand for AI. Canon Inc. sees the NAND memory shortage as an opportunity and is poised to take ASML’s market share with its low-cost “nanoimprint” and KrF lithography equipment. Meanwhile, Sony Semiconductor Solutions is aiming for dominance in the humanoid robot field by combining its “photoelectric fusion” technology, which combines optical communications and electrical signals, with image sensor technology. Japanese companies are competing in their own unique technological fields.
8. Accelerating Entry into Robotics, Nvidia, Arm, and Qualcomm Compete
   Robotics was a major theme at CES 2026, with Nvidia’s CEO declaring that the company has made “groundbreaking progress. In response, Arm established a dedicated robotics division, and Qualcomm announced the Dragonwing IQ10, a processor that will be the brain of humanoid robots.The main battlefield for AI is rapidly expanding from the digital space to physical robots, and major semiconductor companies have begun a platform The battle for the platform is now underway among major semiconductor companies.
9. Nvidia is reportedly radically revamping server design for next-generation Vera Rubin GPUs
   Nvidia is reportedly radically revamping server design for volume shipments of its next-generation AI chip architecture, Vera Rubin, to optimize the power efficiency and cooling performance of its AI infrastructure. This is to optimize the power efficiency and cooling performance of the AI infrastructure. The CEO also revealed three key investment directions, including investments in Groq and memory chips, as the company seeks to redefine the entire data center ecosystem, not just the hardware alone.
10. Taiwan’s New Strategy to Strengthen Semiconductor and AI for 2026 and Neuromorphic
    The Taiwanese government has launched a new strategy to strengthen its semiconductor and AI industries for 2026. This includes supporting the introduction of AI in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and strengthening cooperation with TSMC. On the technology front, Taiwanese researchers have demonstrated breakthroughs in “neuromorphic chips” that mimic the neural circuits of the human brain. In addition to its status as a manufacturing hub, the company is also increasing its presence as an R&D center for next-generation architectures.

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