Semiconductor News 20260216

Main News

1. Taiwan’s January Exports Surge Nearly 70% on AI Server Traction
   Taiwan’s January 2026 exports surged nearly 70% y/y on the back of the AI server boom. This tremendous growth is a major boost to expectations for economic growth in 2026 and is indicative of the strength of Taiwan’s technology industry. The government and industry are also pushing forward with defensive measures to maintain this momentum and protect their technological edge, highlighting the current situation where demand for AI infrastructure remains strong and Taiwan is serving as a supply hub for this demand.
2. India to Become Global AI Compute Base, U.S. Tech Invests ¥10 Trillion
   Major U.S. technology companies are reportedly investing a total of ¥10 trillion in building data centers and other projects to make India a new AI compute base. In this connection, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman attended the AI Impact Summit in India. Due to its geopolitical stability and market potential, India is rapidly emerging as a next-generation AI hub.
3. TSMC Dares to Invest $45 Billion Early for 2nm Mass Production
   TSMC has budgeted a massive $45 billion in capital expenditures for 2026, and this is due to strong customer demand for next-generation technologies such as 2-nanometer (nm) processes. On the other hand, with the ongoing shift of production to the U.S., there are concerns about industrial hollowing out in Taiwan and discussions about the cost burden associated with tariff policies, and the balance between maintaining technological supremacy and global expansion is being questioned.
4. China’ s CXMT to Expand Production under Export Restrictions Despite Yield Challenges
   Chinese memory giant CXMT (Changjiang Zunyue) is embarking on a rapid expansion of production capacity in the face of U.S. export restrictions and manufacturing yield challenges. seeking to gain share in the DRAM market and pursue economies of scale to meet domestic demand. strategy. The Chinese government is also rushing to build industrial clusters through its 14 trillion yen “Grand Fund,” and is accelerating its efforts to establish a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain in response to Western regulations.
5. Rapidus Strengthens Manufacturing Base with Second EUV Exposure System
   Japan’s Rapidus plans to install a second extreme ultraviolet (EUV) exposure system, which is essential for the manufacture of advanced semiconductors. Japan has lagged behind in the introduction of EUV, but preparations are steadily underway for the startup of a factory in Hokkaido, Japan. securing the production equipment and establishing the process technology are important milestones for Rapidus, which aims for mass production of the 2-nanometer generation.
6. U.S. and Taiwan Agree to Reduce Mutual Tariffs from 20% to 15%
   The United States and Taiwan have agreed to reduce their mutual tariff rates from 20% to 15%. As a result of this agreement, Taiwan is expected to purchase approximately 121 trillion won (approx. 13 trillion yen) worth of products from the U.S., including crude oil. The agreement aims to alleviate the impact of tariff policies from the previous Trump administration, stabilize supply chains, especially in semiconductors, and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
7. Rising Cost Pressure in Power Semiconductors, 8-inch Wafer Foundries to Raise Prices
   Eight-inch wafer foundries, the mainstay of power semiconductor manufacturing, are planning to raise product prices, spreading upward pressure on costs throughout the industry. While demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and industrial equipment is firm, the background is the rising cost of maintaining older generation equipment and the rising cost of components. Power semiconductors are key energy-saving devices, and these price hikes could affect end-product prices and manufacturers’ profitability.
8. SK Chairman Holds Chain Meeting with U.S. Big Tech CEOs to Strengthen AI Partnership
   SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won held a series of meetings with CEOs of major U.S. big tech companies to strengthen global AI partnerships, including supply and joint development of AI semiconductors (especially memory such as HBM). With the rapid growth of the AI market, the importance of memory technology possessed by Korean companies is increasing, and through top diplomacy, they are seeking to deepen ties with their customers and secure a competitive advantage.
9. SF Startup Claims to Integrate Living Neurons into AI Processing
   A San Francisco startup claims to have successfully integrated living biological neurons (nerve cells) into modern AI processing processes. The company claims that this biocomputing technology will be used to increase processing power in areas such as computer vision and generative video. The approach is different from conventional silicon chips and is notable as an experimental attempt to demonstrate new possibilities.
10. LG AI Research Institute Expands Team Specializing in “Physical AI” for Robots
    LG AI Research Institute has expanded and restructured its specialized team to strengthen “Physical AI,” AI technology that physically operates in the real world. This is a full-scale move toward the commercialization of robots, and will focus on developing technology to integrate AI brains and robot bodies. NVIDIA has also stated that safety is key to the commercialization of humanoid robots, and Embodied AI (AI) is the next area of competition.

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