Semiconductor News 20260121

Main News

1. Global Semiconductor Revenue to Reach $1 Trillion in 2026 for First Time; NVIDIA Surpasses $100 Billion
   Global semiconductor revenue is projected to reach $1 trillion in 2026 for the first time ever. This historic growth is being driven by demand for AI, with NVIDIA’s annual revenue also surpassing $100 billion for the first time worldwide. The industry is in the midst of an unprecedented super-cycle, with demand for data centers and AI servers fueling the entire market. In line with this, TSMC and imec are also making technological progress toward 0.7 nanometer processes.
2. U.S. Commerce Secretary Warns of Imposing 100% Tar iffs on South Korean and Taiwanese Memory Makers Without U.S. Investment
   The U.S. Commerce Secretary has warned of possible 100% tariffs on South Korean and Taiwanese memory makers that do not invest in the United States. This statement puts significant pressure on the strategies of Samsung, SK Hynix, and others. Korean media reported the risk of “chipflation,” whereby South Korean-made memory is blocked by tariff barriers while Micron gains ground by acquiring DRAM plants, and trade policy has become a bright or dark spot for companies.
3. Samsung’s Foundry Utilization Rate Back to Near 60%, EUV Testing at Taylor Plant in March
   Samsung’s foundry division is reportedly approaching about 60% utilization amid shrinking losses. The company also plans to test EUV tools at its Taylor, Texas, plant in March, a move that is seen as a precursor to chip production for Tesla, which is attracting interest from key customers amid the AI boom and a rapid recovery in manufacturing capacity and transition to advanced processes.
4. TSMC Establishes “ Virtual IDM” for Apple and Agrees on 2nm Chip Specification
   TSMC has established a “virtual IDM” structure for Apple’s chip manufacturing that will work closely together like a vertically integrated device manufacturer (IDM). Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek have also reached agreement on a 2nm chip specification for 2026. Amid concerns about declining attractiveness in the consumer market, there is a growing trend toward increased collaboration on cutting-edge processes to improve the performance of next-generation devices.
5. Micron’s NY Fab Gains Importance Amid Incentive Elimination and Tariffs
   Micron’s New York mega-fab is taking on strategic significance beyond mere memory manufacturing amid incentive changes and tariff implementation moves. The company is moving to secure supply capacity by acquiring a DRAM fab and is taking advantage of strengthening its manufacturing base in the U.S. as South Korean firms face tariff risk. This move is closely linked to the U.S. government’s policy of returning to semiconductor manufacturing.
6. Rising Memory Prices Curtail Consumer Electronics Market; DRAM Prices Rise 15%
   Rising memory prices are threatening growth in the consumer electronics market, including smartphones, laptops, and TVs. “Chipflation” is a reality, with DRAM prices rising 15% and flash memory 6%, and there is concern that consumers’ There are concerns that this will have a negative impact on consumer purchasing decisions. In addition, supply constraints are beginning to be passed on to end-product prices, as VRAM shortages are driving up the price of NVIDIA’s RTX 50 series.
7. Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) Technology Evolves in Data Centers, Communication Between GPUs to be Optical
   Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) technology in data centers is attracting attention, and a technological revolution is underway that will also use optical signals for communication between GPUs. Nikon, NTT, and others are researching seven innovations related to Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), which aim to solve the issues of huge data transfer and power consumption associated with AI processing. Optical technologies such as silicon photonics are also a focus of the Taiwan supply chain in 2025-2026.
8. China Tightens Rare Earth Export Restrictions, Supply Chains Shift Strategies
   As the Chinese government tightens restrictions on rare earth (REE) exports, global supply chains are being forced to shift strategies. This is an essential material for semiconductor manufacturing and advanced electronics, and procurement risks are increasing. Meanwhile, within China, companies are increasingly developing their own technologies and raising capital in response to Western regulations, such as breaking through bottlenecks in semiconductor cooling and promoting IPO plans for companies in response to the AI boom.
9. Elon Musk Restarts Supercomputer “Dojo 3” Project with AI5 Ch ip Design on Track
   Elon Musk has restarted his “Dojo 3” supercomputer project, also known as space-related, with the next-generation “AI5” chip design on track. It aims to reduce its dependence on NVIDIA and build entirely on its own hardware. Tesla has expressed interest in manufacturing at Samsung’s Taylor plant and is simultaneously developing its own AI infrastructure and securing a manufacturing partner.
10. Intel Hires GPU Veteran to Accelerate AI Push and Ohio Plant Construction
    Intel is strengthening its push in the AI field with the hiring of Eric Demers, who led GPU development at Qualcomm and AMD. The company is also making good progress with a series of new job openings at Ohio One, a massive factory construction project in Ohio. We are working to regain competitiveness in the AI and foundry markets by rebuilding our technology leadership and expanding our manufacturing capacity.

News List