Semiconductor News 20260209

Main News

1. Global Semiconductor Revenue to Reach $1 Trillion in 2026 for First Time in History
   Several market research organizations and media outlets are forecasting that total global semiconductor industry revenue will reach the $1 trillion mark in 2026 for the first time ever, with explosive demand for AI, data center and automotive semiconductors driving growth, The industry is seen as having entered a period of structural growth beyond the silicon cycle. This is a historic milestone for the industry and is seen as a major opportunity for investors and related companies.
2. Resonac-led 27-company consortium to counter TSMC with Japanese technology
   US-JOINT, a consortium of 27 semiconductor-related companies from Japan and the U.S. led by Resonac (formerly Showa Denko K.K.), and others are stepping up their offensive in the back-end process technology of AI semiconductors. This is a move to establish “absolute superiority” by exploiting bottlenecks and bringing together the materials and equipment technologies in which Japanese companies have strengths, and is attracting attention as a winning strategy for Japanese companies to demonstrate their presence in the supply chain in the AI age.
3. AMD Transforms AI Infrastructure with Investment in Silicon Photonics
   AMD is accelerating its investment in “silicon photonics” technology and modular architecture that will dramatically improve the efficiency of data transmission within data centers. This is part of AMD’s AI infrastructure strategy to compete with NVIDIA and is expected to be a technology that will fundamentally change the computing infrastructure of the future.
4. Record Blizzard in Japan Threatens AI Chip Supply Chain
   A record blizzard that hit Japan has raised concerns that it could seriously impact the global AI chip supply chain. Japanese companies supply many of the materials and components needed to manufacture semiconductors, and if logistics stalls or factories shut down, it could spur a shortage of AI semiconductors, which is already tight. Climate change risks have once again exposed the vulnerability of the high-tech industry.
5. First High-Performance Semiconductor Chip Production Line Begins Operations in Inner Mongolia
   The first high-performance semiconductor chip production line in the region has begun operations in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This is positioned as a “0 to 1” breakthrough and represents steady progress in the Chinese government’s efforts to foster the semiconductor industry and decentralize the supply chain in the inland region. This is a symbolic example of how the Chinese government is strengthening domestic production capacity even at the local level amid ongoing export restrictions by the United States.
6. NVIDIA Triples Code Output with 30,000 Engineers Using Generative AI
   NVIDIA has announced that its 30,000 engineers have dramatically increased their coding productivity by using generative AI. This is an example of how a company that makes AI chips itself has integrated AI into its development process to achieve overwhelming speed of development, and is likely to set a new standard for AI use in the software development field.
7. New York State Lawmakers Call for Three-Year Halt to New Data Center Construction
   Lawmakers in the U.S. state of New York are moving to introduce legislation calling for a three-year moratorium on the construction of new data centers as the proliferation of data centers in the wake of the AI boom is causing increased power consumption and concerns about environmental impacts. The expansion of AI infrastructure is beginning to cause conflicts with power supplies and local communities, prompting alarm over the move to tighten regulations on tech companies’ expansion strategies.
8. GlobalFoundries Revamps Wafer Services with IP Integration
   GlobalFoundries has revamped its wafer services by integrating third-party intellectual property (IP) into its manufacturing processes. This enables customers to design and manufacture chips faster and at lower cost. This strategy is a flexible response to evolving market demands, especially the diverse needs for IoT, automotive, and edge AI, which is intensifying value-added competition in the foundry business.
9. Daifuku to Expand Production of Semiconductor Handling Systems to Exceed 300 Billion Yen in Sales
   Daifuku, a leading logistics systems company, plans to expand its production capacity of AMHS (Automatic Material Handling Systems) for semiconductor factories to increase sales in this business to over 300 billion yen. President Tomoaki Terai announced the plan, which is aimed at capturing the increase in demand associated with the global rush to build new semiconductor factories. Since factory automation and more efficient transportation in clean rooms directly lead to higher yields, investment in transportation infrastructure as well as manufacturing equipment is booming.
10. Semiconductor Memory Sector Enters “ Super Cycle”
    Analysis suggests that the semiconductor memory market is entering a “super cycle,” a long-term boom period driven by AI and data center demand. Chinese institutional investors and others are increasing their focus on memory-related stocks as domestic substitution progresses. Tightening supply and demand has led to continued price increases, and earnings for DRAM and NAND flash manufacturers are expected to improve significantly.

News List