Semiconductor News 20260116

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Based on the sources provided, the Top 10 most important news items are extracted and summarized.

1. TSMC’s 2026 Revenue Growth Forecast and Record Capital Expenditures
   TSMC expects revenue growth of approximately 30% in 2026, driven by strong AI demand. The company has announced a record $56 billion capital expenditure plan for 2026, including the construction of its fourth fab in Arizona and an advanced packaging facility. and market dominance by accelerating investment in cutting-edge processes.
2. Trump to Impose Additional 25% Tariffs on AI Chips
   Trump has decided to impose 25% tariffs on AI chips such as NVIDIA’s H200 and AMD’s MI325X under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. This move has had a major impact on the semiconductor supply chain, with concerns about the impact on products destined for China and Korean companies. Meanwhile, Taiwan has reached a tariff agreement with the U.S., promising to invest 40 trillion yen in the semiconductor sector and other areas in exchange for lowering mutual tariffs to 15%.
3. TSMC Posts Record Net Profit in Q4 20 25
   TSMC’s Q4 2025 financial results have posted a record net profit of NT$50.57 billion, up 35% from the same period last year. Revenues also surged 20.5% due to strong demand for advanced processes. The company’s performance was supported by demand from NVIDIA and others for AI, which positively impacted the overall market and is driving the sector as a whole, with semiconductor-related stocks such as Applied Materials rising more than 8% in the US market.
4. China’s EUV Technology Eight Generations Behind Leading Edge
   ASML’s CEO has claimed that China’s EUV lithography technology is eight generations behind the world’s leading edge. While China is increasing its focus on homegrown chips amid ongoing export restrictions by the U.S., and progress has been made, such as the release of a model by domestic startup Z.ai trained on Huawei’s Ascend chip, the country still faces significant barriers in exposure tool technology, the foundation of the manufacturing process. The current situation was highlighted.
5. NVIDIA Collaborates with Rapidus to Accelerate Next-Generation GPU Design
   NVIDIA has announced that it will also collaborate with Rapidus in Japan as it leverages its AI infrastructure to speed up its own GPU design and manufacturing. This implies a broad collaboration that includes standardizing designs and leveraging chiplet technology. In Japan, the president of Resonac has also mentioned the possibility of collaboration with Rapidus, with the establishment of a global semiconductor alliance, and there is a growing movement in the public and private sectors to create a next-generation manufacturing and design ecosystem for the AI era.
6. OpenAI to Launch TSMC Custom AI Chips by End of 2026
   OpenAI plans to deploy its first custom AI chips using TSMC’s N3 process by the end of 2026. In addition, the company plans to manufacture its next-generation chips on the more advanced A16 process. The company is also partnering with Cerebras to quickly expand its infrastructure, including adding 750 MW of ultra-low latency AI computing capacity. The company is clearly committed to reducing its dependence on NVIDIA and optimizing AI processing by developing its own hardware.
7. Samsung Electronics Achieves 50% Yield on 2nm GAA Process or
   Samsung Electronics’ foundry division has reportedly achieved 50% yield on its 2nm GAA process. While some analysts believe that TSMC is still leading in the 2nm generation, Samsung is successfully stabilizing its next-generation process and is making important progress in the advanced technology race. However, Samsung is successfully stabilizing its next-generation processes and is making important progress in the advanced technology race.
8. Chinese Government Orders Discontinuation of Use of U.S. and Israeli Security Software
   The Chinese government has ordered domestic entities to discontinue the use of U.S. and Israeli cybersecurity software, including VMware and Fortinet, and replace it with domestically produced products. This is a measure taken from the perspective of national security and further strengthens the de-dependence on foreign products in the software sector. On the other hand, there is also a move by Chinese customs to ban NVIDIA chips from entering the country, which is exacerbating the decoupling of both hardware and software.
9. ROHM and India’s Tata Electronics Form Strategic Alliance
   ROHM of Japan and Tata Electronics of India have entered into a strategic partnership in the semiconductor business. The partnership aims to build a semiconductor ecosystem in India, particularly in growth areas such as in-vehicle and industrial equipment, and to strengthen the supply structure. Amid the ongoing reorganization of global supply chains, the move to combine Japan’s technological capabilities with India’s growing market could become a new axis for the semiconductor industry in the Asian region.
10. Two Memory Giants Return to Expanding Production Capacity, Intensifying Competition for HBM4
    South Korea’s two memory giants, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, have once again turned to expanding production capacity, with SK Hynix increasing its speed by moving up the start-up of its Yongin plant by three months in anticipation of the next-generation HBM4 market.AI The memory market is entering a super-cycle due to exploding demand for servers, and both companies are aiming to maximize profits by increasing production of high-value-added products such as HBM. Against the backdrop of strong demand, competition for investment is heating up again.

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