Semiconductor News 20260225

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

1. TSMC Japan Plant Upgrades to 3nm Process to Meet AI Demand
   TSMC’s Japan plant (Kumamoto Plant) will be upgraded from its original plan to the most advanced 3nm process. The move is in response to surging global demand for AI chips and the expansion of production capacity, and will significantly boost the company’s manufacturing capacity for high-performance semiconductors in Japan. With the support of the Japanese government, we are accelerating our efforts to build a robust semiconductor ecosystem targeting the AI and high-performance computing markets.
2. ASML to Increase Output Power of EUV Lithography Equipment to 1,000W to Improve Production Efficiency
   ASML, a leading semiconductor manufacturing equipment company, has reportedly demonstrated technology to increase the light source output of its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment to 1,000W. This higher output power is expected to dramatically increase wafer throughput, potentially increasing chip production by up to 50 percent by 2030. As a fundamental technology that will both miniaturize cutting-edge processes and improve the efficiency of mass production, it is likely to make a significant contribution to reducing manufacturing costs for semiconductor manufacturers.
3. Semiconductor Cooperation Pact Progresses among Japan, Taiwan, and India, Combining Financing, Technology, and Human Resources
   A new three-nation semiconductor cooperation agreement is under construction, combining Japan’s abundant financial resources, Taiwan’s advanced manufacturing know-how, and India’s outstanding human resources. This is part of a move aimed at restructuring the global supply chain. This multilateral collaboration is attracting a great deal of attention as it seeks to establish a more robust and efficient next-generation semiconductor ecosystem, from design to manufacturing to packaging, by bringing together the strengths of each country.
4. Nvidia Adopts Phased HBM4 Supply Strategy , Will Source from Multiple Suppliers
   Nvidia reportedly plans to adopt a phased supply strategy in procuring HBM4 (high bandwidth memory) for its next-generation AI chips, sourcing from multiple suppliers. In particular, Samsung is expected to secure orders for high-end GPUs, as the AI memory boom has led Nvidia and Apple to scout for talented Korean HBM and NAND-related personnel at unbeatable salaries, intensifying the competition for next-generation memory development.
5. Korean Memory Giants Remain Cautious of Japanese Government’s Full Subsidy Proposal
   The Japanese government is trying to attract Korean memory giants such as Samsung and SK Hynix by offering half the construction cost of semiconductor plants and substantial subsidies. However, these giants remain cautious in terms of huge investment costs and long-term profitability. Japan is rushing to attract foreign companies to revive its semiconductor manufacturing base, but the companies are carefully considering the situation, including global demand trends.
6. Price hikes by Infineon and others trigger restructuring in the power semiconductor industry
   The implementation of product price hikes by major semiconductor manufacturers such as Infineon has accelerated the movement of “restructuring” in the power semiconductor industry as a whole. In the Chinese market, manufacturers such as Hongwei Technology also reacted by raising prices by 10 percent, causing share prices to soar. While demand for power semiconductors that improve power efficiency for electric vehicles and AI infrastructure is firm, some companies have emerged as beneficiaries of the price increase due to the rising cost of components.
7. Demand for semiconductor production equipment is flooding in, with nearly all customers requesting accelerated delivery dates.
   Tokyo Electron’s president has revealed that the company is currently experiencing an unprecedented scale of demand for semiconductor production equipment, against the backdrop of a huge investment boom in semiconductors for AI. The intense competition among semiconductor manufacturers to develop and mass produce semiconductors for the expansion of AI infrastructure is pushing equipment manufacturers’ performance to historic levels.
8. AI puts pressure on DRAM supply; SK Hynix expands monster chip strategy
   With strong demand for AI servers putting extreme pressure on global DRAM supply, SK Hynix Chairman Choi Tae-won is further strengthening his strategy to expand sales of ultra-high-performance memory, dubbed “monster chips. The company is poised to take the lead in the AI market by leveraging its overwhelming technological prowess, despite the shortage of general-purpose memory due to the concentration of production on high-value-added products such as HBM. Riding the memory market’s super cycle, the company aims to secure historic earnings.
9. Taiwan Deploys Protective Measures Against U.S. Tariff Risks; Export Outlook Uneven As the threat of higher tariffs from the Trump administration continues, the Taiwanese government is moving to protect its key export industries, recognizing that the 15 percent U.S. tariff is the upper limit of risk in the worst case scenario. However, each industry sector, such as semiconductors and electronic components, will be affected differently, and exporters face an uneven and uncertain outlook. Fluctuations in trade policy are rippling through the global high-tech supply chain, with Taiwan as a hub.
10. Nvidia to Sell Grace CPUs to Meta Independently, Increasing Intel’s Caution
    Nvidia’s move to sell its Grace CPUs to Meta independently, rather than as a set with a GPU, is increasing Intel’s caution, which holds a dominant share of the server CPU market. Meta intends to introduce Nvidia’s CPUs to reduce power consumption and improve the efficiency of its AI infrastructure. Nvidia, which has dominated the AI accelerator market to date, is expected to make a full-scale entry into the data center main processor area as well, which is expected to change the power structure.

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