• GLOBAL SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT BILLINGS JUMP 38% YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN Q3 2021, LOG FIFTH STRAIGHT QUARTERLY RECORD, SEMI REPORTS December 1, 2021 - Semi December 1, 2021 Global semiconductor equipment billings increased a robust 38% year-over-year to US$26.8 billion in the third quarter of 2021, an 8% rise from the prior quarter to register their fifth consecutive quarter-over-quarter record high, SEMI announced today in its Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) Report. “Strong secular demand for chips across a wide range of markets including… Read More
  • WORLDWIDE SILICON WAFER SHIPMENTS REACH RECORD HIGH IN THIRD QUARTER OF 2021, SEMI REPORTS November 4, 2021 - SEMI November 4, 2021 Worldwide silicon wafer shipments increased 3.3% to 3,649 million square inches in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the previous quarter, a new industry record, the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) reported in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry. Third-quarter 2021 silicon wafer shipments grew 16.4% from the 3,135 million square inches recorded… Read More
  • GlobalFoundries CEO: We’re sold out of semiconductor chip capacity through 2023 October 30, 2021 - CNBC October 30, 2021 Semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries debuted on the Nasdaq this week, valued at over $25 billion, as it became increasingly evident that a global chip shortage could persist through 2023 or later. Now GlobalFoundries needs to convince public market investors that the company is riding a wave of increased demand for all sorts of microchips, that won’t fizzle out after… Read More
  • Port traffic in Southeast Asia is the worst its been in over 6 months — and could create even more chaos for US supply chains October 15, 2021 - Insider October 15, 2021 Two of Asia's largest ports are facing their highest backlog in over six months, according to a report from Bloomberg. Ports in Shenzhen and Hong Kong  — key thoroughfares for tech products that connect South China to the rest of the world —  had 271 ships at the locations on Friday. The ports had 109 ships waiting… Read More
  • Mercedes-Backed Farasis Says Silicon Boosts Battery Energy 25% October 7, 2021 - Bloomberg October 7, 2021 Farasis Energy, the Chinese battery manufacturer backed by Mercedes-Benz, said a lithium-silicon battery it’s developing with Group14 Technologies Inc. passed a key performance test, paving the way for its commercialization in electric vehicles. Group14, which makes battery materials, is part of a crowded field of companies trying to land on new battery chemistries that could speed EV adoption by providing… Read More
  • Japanese silicon wafer maker Sumco plans $2bn expansion October 1, 2021 - Nikkei Asia October 1, 2021 Japan's Sumco will spend 228.7 billion yen ($2.05 billion) to step up production of state-of-the-art 300 mm silicon wafers for semiconductors, the company said Thursday, amid a persistent global chip shortage. "With our existing manufacturing facilities, supply can't keep up with demand," Chairman Mayuki Hashimoto told a virtual news conference. The investment will further bolster… Read More
  • Power Outages Hit China, Threatening the Economy and Christmas September 27, 2021 - The New York Times September 27, 2021 Power cuts and even blackouts have slowed or closed factories across China in recent days, adding a new threat to the country’s slowing economy and potentially further snarling global supply chains ahead of the busy Christmas shopping season in the West. The outages have rippled across most of eastern China, where the bulk… Read More
  • Semiconductor shortage that has hobbled manufacturing worldwide is getting worse September 23, 2021 - The Washington Post September 23, 2021 The global semiconductor shortage that has paralyzed automakers for nearly a year shows signs of worsening, as new coronavirus infections halt chip assembly lines in Southeast Asia, forcing more car companies and electronics manufacturers to suspend production. A wave of delta-variant cases in Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines is causing production delays at factories that cut… Read More
  • The Internet of Cars Is Paved With Silicon September 21, 2021 - EETimes September 21, 2021 Technologists often overuse words such as “disruptive” and “revolutionary,” but the recent evolution of automobile design and manufacturing is undoubtedly both disruptive and revolutionary. These changes represent the most significant upheaval in transportation design over the past 100 years, the greatest advancement since the early days of cars, when steam, gasoline, and even battery-powered vehicles mingled… Read More
  • Record backlog of cargo ships at California ports September 21, 2021 - BBC September 21, 2021 The ships are stuck outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, which handle 40% of all cargo containers entering the country. Before Covid, it was unusual for more than one to wait for a berth. The backlog is linked to surging demand for imports as the US economy has reopened. Retailers and manufacturers… Read More
  • The Silicon Carbide Race Begins September 20, 2021 - Semiconductor Engineering September 20, 2021 The growing adoption of silicon carbide (SiC) for a variety of automotive chips has reached the tipping point where most chipmakers now consider it a relatively safe bet, setting off a scramble to stake a claim and push this wide-bandgap technology into the mainstream. SiC holds great promise for a number of automotive applications, particularly for… Read More
  • SMIC and TSMC respond to the semiconductor shortage September 17, 2021 - AsiaTimes September 17, 2021 Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), China’s largest integrated circuits foundry, has announced plans to build a new $8.9 billion factory in Shanghai to produce semiconductors at the 28-nanometer node. That level of technology is suitable for automotive ICs and other semiconductor products that are currently in short supply. It is several generations behind the leading edge,… Read More
  • Chipmakers to carmakers: Time to get out of the semiconductor Stone Age September 17, 2021 - Fortune September 17, 2021 When it comes to the electronic circuits that power our everyday lives, the automobile is simultaneously the world’s most expensive consumer good and the one that runs on the cheapest possible semiconductor chips. Moore’s law of ever-increasing miniaturization seemingly never reached the automotive industry. Dozens of chips found in everything from electronic brake systems to airbag… Read More
  • More Shortages Seen For Silicon Wafers September 16, 2021 - SemiConductor Engineering September 16, 2021 Silicon wafer shipments have been on a torrid and record breaking pace in the first half of 2021, where demand continues to outstrip supply. So what’s in store for buyers of wafers for the remainder of 2021 and beyond? “Right now, the overall wafer pricing environment is becoming more favorable to wafer suppliers due to… Read More
  • Google building its own chips for Chromebooks, ramping up Pixel plans September 2, 2021 - Seeking Alpha September 1, 2021 Google (GOOG +0.9%, GOOGL +1%) is building its own central processing chips for its Chrome-based laptops and tablets, Nikkei reports - a further move into working on its own silicon. Google is set to use in-house Tensor chips in its upcoming Pixel phone line, replacing a main chip provided by Qualcomm. Google will roll out the CPUs for laptops/tablets around… Read More
  • Why is there a chip shortage? August 27, 2021 - BBC News August 27, 2021 The tech industry is at a crunch point. Today, millions of products - cars, washing machines, smartphones, and more - rely on computer chips, also known as semiconductors. And right now, there just aren't enough of them to meet industry demand. As a result, many popular products are in short supply. It has become almost impossible to… Read More
  • GlobalWafers says long-term orders healthy August 25, 2021 - TaipeiTimes August 25, 2021 GlobalWafers Co (環球晶圓) yesterday said that it has secured orders of more than NT$100 billion (US$3.58 billion) by signing long-term supply agreements amid growing concern that a shortage of silicon wafers might be a headache that arrives on the heels of a chip crunch. As of June 30, the company had received about NT$19 billion in… Read More
  • China’s economy wobbles as Covid starts to hit production August 10, 2021 - AsiaTimes August 10, 2021 China’s economy is showing the first signs of strain with the unraveling of border controls that had previously kept their regions clean of Covid-19. Since late July, two-thirds of China’s 31 provinces and municipalities have rushed to shut malls and factories and curtail travel to staunch the spread of the Delta strain, which was sparked by… Read More
  • Component Prices Rise 10% to 40% July 28, 2021 - EPSNews July 28, 2021 Increased component prices are inevitable when demand outstrips supply. But the electronics supply chain is being hammered on all sides – from materials to logistics -- with rising costs. As one freight expert put it: “In 2020 and 2021, global logistics just can’t seem to catch a break.” For months, the Institute for Supply Management has… Read More
  • The US shipping crisis is not going away as 33 cargo ships float off the coast of LA waiting to dock July 26, 2021 - Insider July 26, 2021 A supply-chain crisis has been brewing off the coast of Southern California for many months as massive freighters wait for dock space to open up. Current port delays are near a record high. On Friday, 33 ships were anchored off the coast waiting for a spot to open up to unload at Los Angeles and Long… Read More
  • Smartphones Could Be Next in Global Chip Shortage July 23, 2021 - Entrepreneur July 23, 2021 According to industry experts, the global chip shortage that has hit the automotive sector so hard could spread into 2022 and affect smartphone manufacturing next. The underlying effect could be a lower supply for a wider variety of appliances and industrial equipment. Smartphone Chips to Be Scarce Iris Pang, ING Greater China chief economist, told Reuters that the car manufacturing industry could… Read More
  • Container Rates to U.S. Top $10,000 as Shipping Crunch Tightens July 16, 2021 - Bloomberg July 16, 2021 Container shipping rates from Asia to the U.S. and Europe increased to new record levels over the past week, ensuring transportation costs will stay elevated for companies heading into a peak season for rebuilding inventories. The spot rate for a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased to a record $9,733, up 1% from the… Read More
  • Intel in talks to buy GlobalFoundries for about $30 billion July 15, 2021 - Reuters July 15, 2021 Intel Corp (INTC.O) is in talks to buy semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries Inc for about $30 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Any deal talks don't appear to include GlobalFoundries directly, as a spokesperson for the company told the Journal it was not in discussions with Intel, according to the report.… Read More
  • U.S. Extends Trump-Era Halt to Economic Dialogue With China July 14, 2021 - Bloomberg July 14, 2021 Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and her staff have no plans to resurrect the regular U.S.-China economic dialogue that governed ties between the two nations during the Bush and Obama administrations, continuing for now the suspension put in place under President Donald Trump. While Yellen’s team, and those of other departments, are in touch with Chinese counterparts,… Read More
  • The global shortage of chips is threatening the economic recovery July 12, 2021 - ZDNet July 12, 2021 The impact of the global shortage of chips is starting to have a direct impact on economic growth: new figures show that the UK's GDP is stumbling, in part driven by cuts in the manufacturing of products that require semiconductors. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its latest measures of economic activity in the… Read More
  • Volkswagen Sees Global Chip Shortage Worsening in Second Half July 9, 2021 - The Wall Street Journal July 9, 2021  Volkswagen AG VOW -1.11% warned that the global shortage of semiconductors affecting car production would worsen over the next six months, joining a chorus of auto companies that have dialed down their outlook for the rest of the year. The warnings mark a shift for the industry after auto CEOs and industry analysts had predicted the chip… Read More
  • Chip shortage to last until 2023, UMC president says July 8, 2021 - Taipei Times July 8, 2021 The global semiconductor shortage is expected to last until 2023 as the COVID-19 pandemic boosts demand for chips for automobiles and smart home devices, United Microelectronics Corp (UMC, 聯電) copresident Chien Shan-chieh (簡山傑) said yesterday. Speaking at the company’s annual general meeting in Hsinchu, Chien said that while the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse… Read More
  • Supply chain: 8-inch wafer prices are expected to rise by 5-10% in the second half of the year June 29, 2021 - SemiMedia June 29, 2021 According to the supply chain, due to strong demand, the contract price of 8-inch silicon wafers may increase in the third quarter, with an increase of about 5-10% in the second half of 2021. Industry insiders pointed out that the 8-inch foundry capacity has been in short supply since the second half of last year. With… Read More
  • Chip Makers Respond to Demand Surge June 24, 2021 - EETimes June 24, 2021 As we reported, Globalfoundries broke ground this week on a new 300-mm fab in Singapore, one of a projected 19 new high-volume fabs to be built by the end of this year, according to the industry group SEMI. Those fabs along with another ten expected to be built in 2022 respond to insatiable demand for semiconductors, fueling an… Read More
  • U.S. Blocks Chinese Deal for Magnachip June 22, 2021 - EETimes June 22, 2021 A U.S. interagency panel has moved to block the acquisition of a South Korean chipmaker by a Chinese investor, signaling what observers say is a significant expansion of U.S. jurisdiction in curtailing Chinese access to strategic semiconductor technologies. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) issued an interim order on June 15 blocking… Read More
  • Wafer Supply Constrained Through 2024 Likely June 22, 2021 - TECHCET June 22, 2021 The electronic materials advisory firm providing business and technology information— announced that the wafer supply will remain constrained into and possibly through 2024. With 300 mm wafer capacity tightening, it will likely remain tight in subsequent years unless greenfield capacity is brought online. Based on current forecasts, 300 mm prime wafer demand will be at >99%… Read More
  • Xi Jinping taps top lieutenant to lead third-generation chip development in battle against US sanctions June 17, 2021 - South China Morning Post June 17, 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping is renewing his years-long push to achieve technology self-sufficiency by tapping a top deputy to shepherd a key initiative aimed at helping domestic chip makers overcome US sanctions. Liu He, Xi’s economic tsar whose sprawling portfolio spans trade to finance and technology, has been tapped to spearhead the development… Read More
  • U.S. senators propose 25% tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing June 17, 2021 - Reuters June 17, 2021 A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Thursday proposed a 25% tax credit for investments in semiconductor manufacturing as Congress works to increase U.S. chip production. The proposal sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden and the top Republican on the panel, Senator Mike Crapo, along with Senators Mark Warner, Debbie Stabenow, John Cornyn and… Read More
  • More Fabs Seen In Chip Boom June 17, 2021 - Semiconductor Engineering June 17, 2021 Over the last year, the semiconductor industry has seen an amazing turnaround. The industry happens to be in a boom cycle. Today, chip demand remains strong. And some fab projects have been accelerated to meet this demand, according to Christian Dieseldorff, an analyst at SEMI. It wasn’t always this way. In early 2020, the business… Read More
  • Intel CEO sees ’10 good years’ of chip industry growth June 16, 2021 - CNBC June 16, 2021 Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said that he expects 10 “good years” of growth in the semiconductor industry during a panel at CNBC’s Evolve conference on Wednesday. “We believe the market, the world, is in a very expansionary period,” Gelsinger told CNBC’s Jon Fortt. “I predict there’s 10 good years in front of us, because the world is… Read More
  • Senate Poised to Pass Huge Industrial Policy Bill to Counter China June 7, 2021 - The New York Times June 7, 2021 Faced with an urgent competitive threat from China, the Senate is poised to pass the most expansive industrial policy legislation in U.S. history, blowing past partisan divisions over government support for private industry to embrace a nearly quarter-trillion-dollar investment in building up America’s manufacturing and technological edge. The legislation, which could be voted… Read More
  • Impact of IC Shortage Extends Beyond Automotive May 21, 2021 - EETimes May 21, 2021 While much of the attention regarding semiconductor shortages has focused on the automotive sector, other industrial and digital sectors are being hit equally hard by IC supply chain disruptions. According to a survey of manufacturers commissioned by software vendor Qt Group and conducted by Forrester Consulting, the industrial machinery and electrical equipment segments are hardest hit… Read More
  • U.S. Chip Makers Embrace Collaboration May 21, 2021 - EETimes May 21, 2021 As Congress debates funding levels for reviving U.S. chip manufacturing, commercial partnerships are forming around strategic technologies such as 5G wireless and AI chips. In a bid to accelerate 5G wireless connectivity, GlobalFoundries is licensing gallium nitride technology from Raytheon Technologies. This collaboration is aimed at boosting not just 5G, but also subsequent 6G wireless infrastructure… Read More
  • Automotive IC Shortage Drags On May 20, 2021 - Semiconductor Engineering May 20, 2021 The current automotive semiconductor shortages won’t end anytime soon. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, it wreaked havoc on the worldwide supply chain, but it especially caught automakers flat-footed. When the auto OEMs canceled chip orders during a roughly eight-week period of plant shutdowns, they later found their supplies of critical ICs had… Read More
  • Automotive Chip Shortages: An Assembly Perspective May 20, 2021 - Semiconductor Engineering May 20, 2021 Since March 2020, the pandemic has brought on scarcity in odd goods like toilet paper, baking flour and exercise equipment. The latest casualty is the auto industry as car production across the world has been hobbled by chip shortages. While much has been written about the role of semiconductor suppliers, foundries, wafer fab equipment, fires,… Read More
  • Senate China Bill to Add $52 Billion for U.S. Chip Making May 18, 2021 - Bloomberg May 18, 2021 The Senate will include $52 billion to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing in a broader bill to enhance U.S. competitiveness with China, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. Schumer on Tuesday called the move “a historic and immediate infusion of federal money” to restore U.S. manufacturing of semiconductors that are crucial to the automobile and electronics industries… Read More
  • Shift from 8″ Wafer Fabs to 12″ Could Ease IC Shortages May 18, 2021 - EETimes May 18, 2021 To put it mildly, the 8-inch (200mm) wafer supply chain is somewhat struggling. As one headline from December read, “8-inch wafer capacity is in short supply to unimaginable levels”, with the article stating “wafer production capacity is so tight that customers’ demand for production capacity has reached a panic level.” And that from mid 2021 “to the second… Read More
  • Global chip crunch is causing a rise in TV prices May 18, 2021 - TechSpot May 18, 2021 In March we learned the global chip shortage had such an impact on supply chains that we wouldn't see a full recovery until 2023, while some optimists in the industry expect this crisis to ameliorate in 2022. The Biden administration stepped in to try and address this, and tech giants have created a coalition to help secure the necessary funding for domestic chip factories and… Read More
  • S Korea unveils US$450bn chipmaking master plan May 14, 2021 - TaipeiTimes May 14, 2021 South Korea unveiled ambitious plans to spend about 510 trillion won (US$450 billion) to build the world’s biggest chipmaking base over the next decade, joining China and the US in a global race to dominate the key technology. Samsung Electronics Co and SK Hynix Inc would lead in the investment of 510 trillion won in semiconductor… Read More
  • Foundry Expansion, Wafer Shipments Reflect Global Chip Boom May 6, 2021 - EETimes May 6, 2021 While global semiconductor manufacturers are stingy with details about fab expansion and capacity utilization, forecasters are nevertheless predicting steady growth in installed “front-end” capacity driven largely by a resurgence in demand for memory. Asian chip makers benefitting from generous government incentives remain the biggest spenders on new foundry capacity, according to the industry group SEMI. Meanwhile,… Read More
  • The Chip Shortage Keeps Getting Worse. Why Can’t We Just Make More? May 5, 2021 - Bloomberg May 5, 2021 Shortages of semiconductors are battering automakers and tech giants, raising alarm bells from Washington to Brussels to Beijing. The crunch has raised a fundamental question for policymakers, customers and investors: Why can’t we just make more chips? There is both a simple answer and a complicated one. The simple version is that making chips is incredibly… Read More
  • The global chip shortage is going from bad to worse. Here’s why you should care May 4, 2021 - CNN Business May 4, 2021 In the market for a new car, smartphone or washing machine this year? A global shortage of computer chips could mean you have to wait a while and pay more. A growing number of manufacturers around the world are having trouble securing supplies of semiconductors, delaying the production and delivery of goods and threatening to push up… Read More
  • Global Chip Drought Hits Apple, BMW, Ford as Crisis Worsens April 29, 2021 - SupplyChainBrain April 29, 2021 The global chip shortage is going from bad to worse with automakers on three continents joining tech giants Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. in flagging production cuts and lost revenue from the crisis. In a dizzying 12-hour stretch, Honda Motor Co. said it will halt production at three plants in Japan; BMW AG cut shifts… Read More
  • Europe Is Trying to Reclaim Its Lost Chipmaking Glory April 27, 2021 - Bloomberg April 27, 2021 Hey everyone, it's Natalia. Europe wants to reclaim its former glory as a chip-manufacturing powerhouse. As soon as next week, the European Union is set to release some details on its new semiconductor plans. The ambition will feature as part of a larger update to the bloc’s industrial strategy, highlighting areas where it’s dangerously dependent on non-EU companies for… Read More
  • GM President Reuss says chip shortage is ‘worst’ auto supply issue ever as sale prices rise April 26, 2021 - Fox Business April 26, 2021 Relief for the semiconductor shortage that’s been hampering global automotive production may be farther off than first hoped. Automakers had been hoping for normalization of supplies starting this summer, but a poll of 100 industry professionals by GlobalData found that 47% think the shortages will stretch to the end of the year while 32% expect them to… Read More
  • Foundry Wars Begin April 19, 2021 - Semiconductor Engineering April 19, 2021 Leading-edge foundry vendors are gearing up for a new, high-stakes spending and technology race, setting the stage for a possible shakeup across the semiconductor manufacturing landscape. In March, Intel re-entered the foundry business, positioning itself against Samsung and TSMC at the leading edge, and against a multitude of foundries working at older nodes. Intel announced… Read More
  • Chip constraints create domino effect in Korea’s auto industry April 18, 2021 - TheKoreaTimes April 18, 2021 The global chip shortage has impacted major automakers worldwide and Korea is also seeing a domino-like effect with consecutive shutdowns of plants at major local powerhouses such as Hyundai, Kia and GM Korea. The shutdowns have impacted best-selling lineups ― Hyundai will halt production of its Grandeur and Sonata sedans, Monday, as will GM Korea with… Read More
  • A Semiconductor Shortage, a Capex Boom, and Onshoring April 15, 2021 - 3DInCities April 15, 2021 The semiconductor shortage written about last month seems to have expanded, or at least the panic behind it has expanded, as there will be a major impact on the automotive sector, which then trickles down to multiple businesses worldwide. The only automotive maker that does not seem to be significantly impacted is Toyota, because they broke… Read More
  • Latest IC Forecast: Big Demand, Shortages April 15, 2021 - Semiconductor Engineering April 15, 2021 Over the last year, the semiconductor industry has seen its share of highs, lows and uncertainties. In early 2020, the business looked bright, but the IC market dropped amid the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. Throughout 2020 different countries implemented a number of measures to mitigate the outbreak, such as stay-at-home orders and business closures. Economic turmoil… Read More
  • U.S. China hawks seek to cut sales of chip-making tools to Beijing April 15, 2021 - Reuters April 15, 2021 Congressional China hawks are urging the Biden administration to restrict sales of chip-making tools to Chinese companies, similar to an action taken against telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co (HWT.UL). In a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Representative Michael McCaul and Senator Tom Cotton said the rule that requires U.S. licenses to sell semiconductors… Read More
  • Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s ‘No-Brainer’ Plan To Solve Chip Shortage April 13, 2021 - CRN April 13, 2021 Intel’s new CEO, Pat Gelsinger, virtually met with President Joe Biden and his administration on Monday urging the federal government to fund his vision of boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to new heights for the sake of national security and solving major semiconductor supply chain issues. “I believe our moonshot should be that one-third of the supply of semiconductors should be… Read More
  • TSMC reports sales rise, extending run of record quarters April 10, 2021 - TaipeiTimes April 10, 2021 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday reported a third straight quarter of record sales, underscoring its lead as the world’s No. 1 maker of advanced chips, which are in short supply. Taiwan’s largest company said that first-quarter revenue climbed 16.7 percent to NT$362.41 billion (US$12.74 billion), compared with the average NT$360.5 billion of analysts’ estimates.… Read More
  • MacBook, iPad production delayed as supply crunch hits Apple April 8, 2021 - Reuters April 8, 2021 Production of some of Apple Inc’s MacBooks and iPads has been postponed due to a global component shortage, the Nikkei reported on Thursday. Chip shortages have caused delays in a key step in MacBook production, the report said, adding that some iPad assembly was postponed because of a shortage of displays and display components. (s.nikkei.com/3uAZhI7) As… Read More
  • Semiconductor Units Forecast To Exceed 1 Trillion Devices Again in 2021 April 7, 2021 - IC Insights April 7, 2021 A 13% increase is expected to lift total semiconductor shipments to a new record high. Total semiconductor unit shipments, which include integrated circuits as well as optoelectronics, sensor/actuator, and discrete (O-S-D) devices, are forecast to rise 13% in 2021, to 1,135.3 billion (1.1353 trillion) units to set a new all-time annual record, based on data presented… Read More
  • IC packaging, PCB material prices rise April 7, 2021 - DigiTimes April 7, 2021 Materials for PCBs and IC packaging have seen prices rising and the upward trend is set to continue in the second quarter, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Sumitomo Bakelite has raised quotes for epoxy resin, phenolic resin and prepreg by 10-15% recently, and is poised to make another 10-15% upward adjustments in its prices including… Read More
  • Chip shortage shows no signs of abating, may drag into 2022 April 6, 2021 - ARS Technica April 6, 2021 Auto manufacturers and other companies are hoping that the global chip shortage will end soon, but snarled semiconductor supply chains may not untangle until next year. The mess began when the pandemic upended the market for semiconductors. As demand for cars plummeted, automakers slashed their orders. But at the same time, demand for chips that power… Read More
  • SIA Urges U.S. Government Action to Strengthen America’s Semiconductor Supply Chain April 5, 2021 - Semiconductor Industry Association April 5, 2021 The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce in response to President Biden’s executive order on securing America’s critical supply chains. The submission highlights the importance of the global semiconductor supply chain to maintaining a strong semiconductor industry and identifies a range of vulnerabilities in the supply chain. It also urges the… Read More
  • Subaru to temporarily shut its plant due to chip shortage April 5, 2021 - Reuters April 5, 2021 Japan’s Subaru Corp said on Monday that the automaker will shut its Yajima plant between April 10 and 27 due to a chip shortage, affecting 10,000 vehicles. Subaru will restart all production lines at the Yajima plant in Gunma Prefecture from May 10, it said in a statement. It added that the impact on the group’s… Read More
  • Is there an Answer to the Ongoing Global Chip Shortage? April 5, 2021 - CXOToday April 5, 2021 With higher demand for cell phones, laptops and the increased use of internet, demand for semiconductor chips has increased tremendously. But new vulnerabilities have emerged in the global semiconductor supply chain, with the industry now facing an even greater shortage of semiconductor chips. This has raised the question that if there is an end to this… Read More
  • Why Shortages of a $1 Chip Sparked Crisis in Global Economy April 5, 2021 - Bloomberg April 5, 2021 To understand why the $450 billion semiconductor industry has lurched into crisis, a helpful place to start is a one-dollar part called a display driver. Hundreds of different kinds of chips make up the global silicon industry, with the flashiest ones from Qualcomm Inc. and Intel Corp. going for $100 apiece to more than $1,000. Those run powerful computers or… Read More
  • Global Semiconductor Sales Up 14.7% Year-to-Year in February April 5, 2021 - Semiconductor Industry Assocation April 5, 2021 The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced global semiconductor industry sales were $39.6 billion for the month of February 2021, an increase of 14.7% over the February 2020 total of $34.5 billion, but 1.0% less than the January 2021 total of $40.0 billion. Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and… Read More
  • US companies are expected to see their strongest profit growth in nearly 20 years after downward revisions were ‘too aggressive’ April 4, 2021 - Insider April 4, 2021 Expectations for quarterly earnings growth are at their strongest in about two decades as analysts pencil in the impact of the US economy's acceleration out of recession, led by projections for earnings in the energy sector to more than double. A big wave of financial reports should hit Wall Street in mid-April, with big banks including JPMorgan… Read More
  • TSMC announces US$100bn plan for R&D and expansion April 2, 2021 - Taipei Times April 2, 2021 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to invest about US$100 billion to expand capacity and fund research and development (R&D) of advanced technologies in the next three years to keep up with rising demand, it said yesterday. TSMC unveiled the rare multiyear investment plan to appease customer panic over a global chip shortage. “We… Read More
  • BANK OF AMERICA: Buy these 14 semiconductor stocks poised to benefit from Biden’s multitrillion-dollar infrastructure plan — including 1 set to surge 39% April 2, 2021 - Business Insider April 2, 2021 President Joe Biden has unveiled his $2.25 trillion infrastructure proposal This is the first part of a four-part eight year plan, paid for by tax hikes on businesses. The proposal covers a range of areas, from a $621 billion investment in electric vehicles and transportation to a $480 billion in spending on manufacturing subsidies, research and development,… Read More
  • Global chip supply chain increasingly vulnerable to massive disruption, study finds April 1, 2021 - Reuters April 1, 2021 A new study from a U.S. industry group found that the global semiconductor supply chain has become increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and geopolitical disruptions because suppliers have become more concentrated in distinct regions. The report comes amid a global chip shortage that started with overbooked factories in Taiwan late last year, but has since been… Read More
  • Electronics Adds to U.S. Manufacturing Surge April 1, 2021 - EPSNews April 1, 2021 The electronics sector helped drive U.S. manufacturing activity to a 37-year high in March as pent-up demand emptied customers’ shelves and firmed up expectations for a widespread economic recovery. There are no signs demand will abate, according to the Institute for Supply Management, although factories will face supply and labor constraints at least through the third quarter. “Extended… Read More
  • IBM Exec on Intel Chipmaking Collab: “Choose Your Strength” April 1, 2021 - IEEE Spectrum April 1, 2021 Intel and IBM—two of the titans of the U.S. semiconductor industry over the last 40 years—have joined forces to advance next-generation logic and packaging technologies. This new partnership comes as a bit of a surprise to anyone who has observed the U.S. semiconductor industry over the last four decades and witnessed the rivalry between the… Read More
  • Apple supplier Foxconn warns that component shortages will last until 2022 March 30, 2021 - The Verge March 30, 2021 The ongoing global shortage for electronic components continues, and Foxconn — which handles manufacturing for Apple, among other major tech heavyweights — has announced that it’s starting to see the impact of shortages. According to Young Liu, Foxconn’s CEO, the company won’t be able to fulfill some of its orders due to those shortages, which… Read More
  • Chip supply crunch to last two years, Macronix says March 30, 2021 - Taipei Times March 30, 2021 Macronix International Co (旺宏電子) yesterday said that the chip crunch could persist for two years, as the world’s major suppliers have been cautious about expanding capacity while demand for NOR flash memory chips has been mounting, especially for vehicles. Macronix, the world’s biggest supplier of NOR flash memory chips, said its factories have been running… Read More
  • China cuts taxes to spur semiconductor expansion March 30, 2021 - Taipei Times March 30, 2021 China yesterday announced tax breaks to spur growth of its semiconductor industry following US sanctions that alarmed the Chinese Communist Party by cutting off access to US processor chips for tech giant Huawei Technologies Co (華為) and some other companies. Leaders declared accelerating efforts to transform China into a self-reliant “technology power” to be this… Read More
  • Intel Drops a Bomb, Not the Ball March 26, 2021 - EETimes March 26, 2021 Intel rewarded the patient this week as Pat Gelsinger made some very big announcements about the formation of a standalone foundry business, increased partnerships with TSMC for manufacturing of Intel processor products, and a huge promised investment in new manufacturing plants in Arizona. EETimes editor Brian Santo provided an excellent synposis and analysis of Gelsinger’s web presentation. Up… Read More
  • Honda to extend production suspension at some North American plants March 23, 2021 -  Reuters March 23, 2021 Honda Motor Co said on Tuesday it will extend production suspensions at some North American plants into the week of March 29 due to various supply chain issues. Last week, the Japanese automaker said a variety of issues would force it to halt production at a majority of North American plants for the entire week of… Read More
  • Global shortage in computer chips ‘reaches crisis point’ March 21, 2021 - TheGuardian March 21, 2021 Consumers are facing price rises and shortages of products from TVs and mobile phones to cars and games consoles as a global shortage in semiconductors grows. The shortage in chips, the “brain” within every electronic device in the world, has been steadily worsening since last year. Initially the problem was only a temporary delay in supplies… Read More
  • China’s SMIC gets Shenzhen funds for US$2.4bn fab March 19, 2021 - Taipei Times March 19, 2021 Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC, 中芯國際) is to build a US$2.35 billion plant with funding from the Shenzhen City Government, the first major project to emerge from China’s master plan to match the US and become more self-reliant amid a global chip shortage. SMIC yesterday said that shortages could worsen this year and next, harming… Read More
  • Samsung warns of severe chip crunch March 18, 2021 - Taipei Times March 18, 2021 Samsung Electronics Co yesterday said that it is grappling with the fallout from a “serious imbalance” in semiconductors globally, becoming the largest tech giant to voice concerns about chip shortages spreading beyond the automaking industry. The company, one of the world’s largest makers of chips and consumer electronics, expects the crunch to pose a problem… Read More
  • GLOBAL FAB EQUIPMENT SPENDING POISED TO LOG THREE STRAIGHT YEARS OF RECORD HIGHS, SEMI REPORTS March 16, 2021 - SEMI March 16, 2021 Fueled by surging pandemic-inspired demand for electronics devices, the global semiconductor industry is on track to register a rare three consecutive years of record highs in fab equipment spending with a 16% increase in 2020 followed by forecast gains of 15.5% this year and 12% in 2022, SEMI highlighted today in its quarterly World Fab Forecast report.… Read More
  • Honda temporarily cutting production at all U.S., Canada plants March 16, 2021 - Reuters March 16, 2021 Honda Motor Co said late Tuesday supply chain issues will force a halt to production at a majority of U.S. and Canadian auto plants for a week. The Japanese automaker added the issue will result in some production cuts next week at all U.S. and Canadian plants, citing “the impact from COVID-19, congestion at various ports,… Read More
  • Japan’s silicon wafer latecomers turn to China for expansion March 16, 2021 - Nikkei Asia March 16, 2021 Two upstart manufacturers of semiconductor wafers in Japan are expanding their presence in China, looking to ride Beijing's efforts to achieve chip self-sufficiency and tap into the money the government is pouring into the sector. Ferrotec Holdings, headquartered in Tokyo, mainly produces components for chipmaking devices. The company started making wafers in 2002 in China, with the… Read More
  • A Silicon Chip Shortage May Delay Headphones and Game Consoles, but Don’t Panic March 8, 2021 - NYTimes March 8, 2021 In 2020, the country was challenged by product shortages affecting everything from toilet paper to pasta. Now 2021 is presenting a new obstacle: a low supply of the silicon chips used in computers, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other electronics. After reading some of the coverage of these shortages, you might be concerned that, in a few months, you won’t be able… Read More
  • SK Hynix starts mass-production of mobile DRAM offering industry’s largest capacity March 8, 2021 - Yonhap News Agency March 8, 2021 SK hynix Inc., South Korea's No. 2 chipmaker, said Monday it has begun mass-production of a mobile DRAM that offers the industry's largest capacity. SK hynix said 18-gigabyte low-power double data rate (LPDDR) 5 is in mass production and that the company supplied its very first products to Asus' gaming smartphone, the Republic of… Read More
  • From Nurses to Chips and Containers, U.S. Sees Shortages Abound March 5, 2021 - SupplyChainBrain March 5, 2021 The Federal Reserve is seeing a lot more shortages across the U.S. economy, in ways that might be construed as early warning signs of inflation if they persist. In the Fed’s Beige Book report released this week, the central bank mentions the word “shortage” or “shortages” 31 times, the most going back at least a decade.… Read More
  • GlobalFoundries pours $1.4 billion into fab expansion amid chip demand boom March 3, 2021 - Reuters March 3, 2021 GlobalFoundries will invest $1.4 billion this year to raise output at three factories in the United States, Singapore and Germany, as a global shortage of semiconductors has boosted demand for chips, its chief executive said. The U.S.-based company, a unit of Abu Dhabi’s state-owned fund Mubadala, may also bring forward its initial public offering to late… Read More
  • China’s ambitions threatened by US equipment ban March 3, 2021 - AsiaTimes March 3, 2021 China is making an all-out effort to achieve independence in semiconductors, but the learning curve is steep and US sanctions are hurting. America’s National Security Council for Artificial Intelligence issued a 750-page report yesterday proposing that the “United the United States and its allies should utilize targeted export controls on high-end semiconductor manufacturing equipment… to protect existing technical… Read More
  • Race is on for used chipmaking equipment March 3, 2021 - AsiaTimes March 3, 2021 It’s an old expression — one man’s junk, is another man’s treasure. You might say that’s the case with China’s semiconductor makers, who are snapping up used chipmaking machines as fast as they can buy them. The surprising thing is where they’re getting them from — Japan. According to a report in Nikkei Asia, the rush to… Read More
  • China Revs Up Grand Chip Ambitions to Counter U.S. Blacklistings March 2, 2021 - Bloomberg News March 2, 2021 In just two decades, China sent people into space, built its own aircraft carrier and developed a stealth fighter jet. Now the world’s youngest superpower is setting out to prove its capabilities once more -- this time in semiconductors. At stake is nothing less than the future of the world’s No. 2 economy. Beijing’s blueprint… Read More
  • China’s most important chipmaker SMIC could be a big winner from the global semiconductor shortage March 1, 2021 - CNBC March 1, 2021 Chinese chipmaker SMIC could be a beneficiary of the global chip shortage, according to one analyst, giving the firm a respite from some of the negative effects of U.S. sanctions. The chip shortage started as demand surged for consumer electronics as countries locked down to fight the coronavirus pandemic. That demand for products requiring advanced semiconductors has led to shortages in… Read More
  • Automotive Semiconductor Companies Are Benefiting From Chip Shortage March 1, 2021 - Seeking Alpha March 1, 2021 Summary Despite a shortage, revenues of IC companies increased in 2H 2020 as average selling prices rose with decreasing supply. Total revenues of the top Automotive IC manufacturers increased an average of 9.7% YoY in Q4 2020 and 13.7% H2 2020/H1 2020. Top chip companies as a percentage of revenues include Renesas (51%), NXP (47%),… Read More
  • Biden can’t fix the chip shortage any time soon. Here’s why. March 1, 2021 - The Washington Post March 1, 2021 Semiconductor executive Tom Caulfield knew a crisis was brewing when he started getting frantic calls from big automakers just before Christmas. “Tom, you’re killing me. You need to make more,” Caulfield, the chief executive of chipmaker GlobalFoundries, recalls the auto executives saying. “Ford, Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler-Benz, Fiat Chrysler, GM — every one of them… Read More
  • Here’s why there’s a global computer chip shortage that is slamming automakers during the pandemic February 6, 2021 - Business Inside February 6, 2021 A group of lawmakers is asking the Biden administration to intervene in what has become a global computer chip shortage. "We believe that the incoming administration can continue to play a helpful role in alleviating the worst impacts of the shortage on American workers," the senators wrote in a letter. So what's going on? Automakers and… Read More
  • Auto Industry Chip Shortages Reflect Wider Shortfall January 28, 2021 - EETimes January 28, 2021 The failure of auto companies to secure supplies of chips reflects widespread shortages in the semiconductor industry, and there’s no crystal ball on when equilibrium will return. Two of the world’s top-three foundries, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) said today that they’re running at full tilt, and the best they can… Read More
  • Chipmakers agree to help automakers January 28, 2021 - Taipei TImes January 28, 2021 As automakers around the world face work stoppages due to a lack of chips, Taiwan’s leading chipmakers will “do their best” to “squeeze out more chips” for the global auto industry, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花) said yesterday after a lunch meeting with company representatives. Speaking after meeting with representatives of Taiwan Semiconductor… Read More
  • Roaring ’20s For The Chip Industry January 28, 2021 - Semiconductor Engineering January 28, 2021 2020 was a good year for the semiconductor industry and the EDA industry that fuels it, but 2021 has the opportunity to be even better. New end application markets continue to open, and what were once seen as technical hurdles are leading to a multitude of innovative solutions, all of which need suitable tooling. No… Read More
  • China to invest in chip capacity to address shortages January 26, 2021 - Argus Media January 26,2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has driven rapid growth in demand for semiconductor chips for data centre server capacity and smart devices. And after disruptions during the first half of last year, use of semiconductors in automotive manufacturing has accelerated, resulting in supply shortages. Automotive producers in China, Europe and North America have temporarily halted or reduced production… Read More
  • China Surges Past Americas and Japan in IC Capacity January 25, 2021 - Semi January 25, 2021 Back in 2012, China ranked fifth among seven regions worldwide in IC wafer capacity but surged past the Americas and Japan in 2018 and 2019 to claim the number three position (figure 1). That’s a big deal given that ICs account for the largest share of wafer capacity excluding discrete, opto, MEMS and sensors. China’s IC… Read More
  • Samsung Considers $10 Billion Texas Chipmaking Plant, Sources Say January 21, 2021 - Bloomberg January 21, 2021 Samsung Electronics Co. is considering spending more than $10 billion building its most advanced logic chipmaking plant in the U.S., a major investment it hopes will win more American clients and help it catch up with industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. The world’s largest memory chip and smartphone maker is in discussions to locate a facility in… Read More
  • Chip shortages slow vehicle production January 11, 2021 - Taipei Times January 11, 2021 A widening global shortage of semiconductors for auto parts is forcing major auto companies to halt or slow vehicle production just as they were recovering from COVID-19 pandemic-related factory shutdowns. Officials at Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, Toyota Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co all say they have been hit by… Read More
  • Toyota Says Chip Shortage Impacting Output of Texas-Made Trucks January 9, 2021 - Bloomberg Januaray 9, 2021 Toyota Motor Corp. is cutting production of its full-size pickup truck made in Texas due to a global shortage of semiconductors that has impacted many of the world’s largest automakers. The Japanese company expects to trim output of its Tundra model manufactured in San Antonio by 40% this month as a result of limited chip supplies, a… Read More
  • U.S. Takes Strategic Step to Onshore Electronics Manufacturing January 6, 2021 - Spectrum January 6, 2021 Late last week, the U.S. Congress passed the annual policy law that guides the U.S. Defense Department. Tucked away inside the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 (NDAA) are provisions that supporters hope will lead to a resurgence in chip manufacturing in the United States. The provisions include authorization for what could be billions of dollars of financial… Read More
  • China unveils tax exemption to boost self-sufficiency of domestic chip makers December 18, 2020 - CGTN December 18, 2020 China has announced a 10-year tax exemption policy for its integrated circuit (IC) industry in the latest effort to boost self-sufficiency in the sector that has come under increasing strain with the U.S. attempts to choke off its supply of microchips. Qualified domestic IC manufacturers will enjoy a maximum of 10-year tax exemption from 2020, according… Read More
  • U.S. Defense Department looks to bolster domestic chip manufacture with new program December 17, 2020 - Reuters December 17, 2020 The U.S. Defense Department will soon start soliciting proposals for a program to provide incentives to boost semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in the United States, according to a posting on a government contracting site. Major American semiconductor companies such as Apple Inc, Qualcomm Inc and Nvidia Corp rely on outside manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co… Read More
  • 200mm Demand Surges December 17, 2020 - SemiEngineering December 17, 2020 A surge in demand for various chips is causing shortages for select 200mm foundry capacity as well as 200mm fab equipment, and it shows no signs of abating in 2021. Foundry customers will face a shortfall of 200mm capacity at select foundries at least in the first half of 2021, and perhaps beyond. Those customers will… Read More
  • Global chip shortage threatens production of laptops, smartphones and more December 17, 2020 - Reuters December 17, 2020 Makers of cars and electronic devices from TVs to smartphones are sounding alarm bells about a global shortage of chips, which is causing manufacturing delays as consumer demand bounces back from the coronavirus crisis. The problem has several causes, industry executives and analysts say, including bulk-buying by U.S. sanctions-hit Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies, a fire… Read More
  • Global semiconductor market growth to accelerate in 2021, says WSTS December 4, 2020 - DigiTimes December 4, 2020 The global semiconductor market is projected to grow by 8.4% in 2021 following a 5.1% increase this year, according to the autumn 2020 forecast of the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS). The 8.4% market rise next year will be driven by double-digit growth of the memory and optoelectronics segments, WSTS said. All other product categories are… Read More
  • Chip shortages could slow automotive production, VW and suppliers say December 4, 2020 - Reuters December 4, 2020 A shortage of chips used in auto manufacturing could disrupt automotive production in China well into next year, industry officials said Friday, with chip companies saying they are raising prices and expanding their production in response. Automobiles have become increasingly dependent on chips - many of them made in Europe - for everything from computer management… Read More
  • Demand for ICs to stay robust in 2021, say sources December 2, 2020 - DigiTimes December 2, 2020 Taiwan-based IC distributors have enjoyed strong sales so far in 2020 thanks to clients' keen inventory preparations and Huawei's brisk short-term orders ahead of its trade ban by the US government, and the momentum is expected to continue in 2021, according to sources from the semiconductor supply chain. IC distributors including WPG Holdings, WT Microelectronics and… Read More
  • Powerchip hikes prices of chips due to demand December 2, 2020 - Taipei Times December 2, 2020 Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (力積電) on Monday said that it has hiked chip prices, as demand has significantly surpassed what it can supply, and expects a chip shortage to worsen next year amid rapidly growing adoption of 5G-related applications. Supply of power management ICs, image sensors and display driver ICs has become so tight that… Read More
  • GlobalWafers close to Siltronic deal December 1, 2020 - Taipei Times December 1, 2020 GlobalWafers Inc (環球晶圓) yesterday said it is in final talks to acquire Germany-based Siltronic AG in a 3.75 billion euro (US$4.5 billion) deal, which might help it compete with its closest rival Sumco Corp of Japan. The acquisition would be the fifth for GlobalWafers since 2008, as it has grown to become the world’s No.… Read More
  • Global Chip Equipment Billings Continue to Soar Amid Pandemic November 23, 2020 - Semi November 23, 2020 The global economy has started down a gradual path to recovery from COVID-19 in recent months as the world continues to combat the virus. Yet one sector – semiconductors – has shown impressive growth powered by a transformation hastened by the pandemic across industries ranging from education and work-from-home to healthcare. Semiconductor sales increased 12% in… Read More
  • Intel to Keep Its Number One Semiconductor Supplier Ranking in 2020 November 23, 2020 - ICInsights November 23, 2020 IC Insights’ November Update to the 2020 McClean Report, released later this month, includes a discussion of the forecasted top-25 semiconductor suppliers in 2020. This research bulletin covers the expected top-15 2020 semiconductor suppliers (Figure 1). The November Update also includes a detailed five-year forecast through 2024 of the IC market by product type (including dollar volume, unit shipments, and average… Read More
  • Taiwan, US to focus on semiconductors November 22, 2020 - TaipeiTimes November 22, 2020 Taiwan and the US on Friday held talks on strengthening their economic relationship, and have identified the semiconductor industry as the top mutual priority in economic cooperation. The talks, under the auspices of the new Economic Prosperity Partnership (EPP) Dialogue, were held virtually and partly in person in Washington, led on the US side by US… Read More
  • TSMC suppliers set to follow chipmaker to U.S. November 20, 2020 - Focus Taiwan November 20, 2020 Several Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) suppliers have voiced their intention to follow TSMC to the United States after the world's largest contract chipmaker finalized its plan to build an advanced 5 nanometer wafer plant in Arizona. Clean equipment maker United Integrated Services Co. (UIS), which was named by TSMC as one of its good… Read More
  • China TSMC Rival HSMC Runs Out of Cash, Ex-CEO Says November 20, 2020 - EETimes November 20, 2020 Wuhan Hongxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (HSMC) is the latest casualty in the technology war between China and the United States. The debt-ridden company is insolvent, according to the company’s ex-CEO. “Investors ran short of cash,” ex-CEO Chiang Shang-yi, told EE Times in a message via LinkedIn. “I got caught by surprise. It’s over now, and I’m back home… Read More
  • AMD CEO Lisa Su gets chip industry’s highest honor November 19, 2020 - VentureBeat November 19, 2020 Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su has received the chip industry’s highest honor as the 2020 recipient of the Robert N. Noyce Award. The Semiconductor Industry Association lobbying group gave her the award in an online ceremony today. The event normally takes place in San Jose, California and has about 1,000 attendees. This is the first time the award has… Read More
  • Upturn Seen For Silicon Wafer Market November 19, 2020 - SemiEngineering November 19, 2020 After a downturn in 2019, the silicon wafer market is expected to rebound in 2020. 2021 looks even better for silicon wafers. Silicon wafers are a fundamental part of the semiconductor business. Every chipmaker needs to buy them in one size or another. Silicon wafer vendors produce and sell bare or raw silicon wafers to chipmakers,… Read More
  • Apple blamed IBM and Intel for Mac chip delays, but TSMC won’t be next November 18, 2020 - Venture Beat November 13, 2020 What happens when the world’s most ambitious mobile chip designer is constrained by the production capacity of its only chip manufacturing partner? Thanks to Apple’s introduction of M1 chips for Macs this week, we might soon find out, but leading chip fabricator TSMC won’t be the one to blame. It’s not hyperbole to state that Apple has… Read More
  • IC shortages to last till demand eases for notebooks, gaming gears, says Foxconn chair November 16, 2020 - DigiTimes November 16, 2020 Shortages of components, especially those ICs fabricated at 8-inch fabs, will not ease until terminal market demand slows down for notebooks, gaming machines and other devices supporting stay-at-home economy, according to Foxconn Technology chairman Young Liu. Liu said IC components have been in short supply due partly to insufficient wafer capacity support for chips vendors and… Read More
  • Samsung’s R&D spending continues to rise in Q3; employment at record high November 16, 2020 - Yonhap News November 16, 2020 Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday its research and development (R&D) spending for the first nine months of the year hit a record high of 15.89 trillion won (US$14.3 billion) amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The figure represented a 600 billion-won increase from a year earlier, and is a more than 5 trillion won increase from… Read More
  • China is losing its bet on chips November 16, 2020 - Mint November 16, 2020 Apple is making its first Mac computers since 2005 without an Intel microprocessor. Instead, the company announced last week, Macs will use Apple’s own M1 processor, fabricated by TSMC, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Hey, nothing personal, Intel—by now the whole industry knows you botched your transition to sub-10-nanometer chips and are still behind. But this… Read More
  • IC industry output to grow more than 20 percent: TSIA November 16, 2020 - TaipeiTimes November 16, 2020 The production value of Taiwan’s integrated circuit (IC) industry is expected to grow 20.7 percent year-on-year this year on the back of a booming stay-at-home economy and emerging technologies, the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA, 台灣半導體協會) said in a report on Friday. The association had earlier estimated growth of 12.6 percent. Production value of the IC… Read More
  • Samsung’s R&D spending continues to rise in Q3; employment at record high November 16, 2020 - Yonhap News Agency November 16, 2020  Samsung Electronics Co. said Monday its research and development (R&D) spending for the first nine months of the year hit a record high of 15.89 trillion won (US$14.3 billion) amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The figure represented a 600 billion-won increase from a year earlier, and is a more than 5 trillion won increase… Read More
  • Japan, China and other Asian nations sign massive RCEP trade pact November 15, 2020 - JapanTimes November 15, 2020 Asia-Pacific countries including Japan, China and the 10 members of ASEAN signed a regional trade deal on Sunday covering nearly a third of the global economy, wrapping up eight years of negotiations following the withdrawal of India. The 15 signatories to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership reached the agreement, aimed at cutting tariffs and establishing common… Read More
  • Veeco’s revenue grows 14% in Q3 November 13, 2020 - Semiconductor Today November 13, 2020 For third-quarter 2020, epitaxial deposition and process equipment maker Veeco Instruments Inc of Plainview, NY, USA has reported revenue of $112.1m, up 14% on $98.6m last quarter and 2.8% on $109m a year ago (and above the midpoint of the $100-120m guidance). “While maintaining all health and safety measures [during the COVID-19 pandemic], we continue… Read More
  • Kyocera acquiring Soraa spin-off SLD Laser November 12, 2020 - Semiconductor Today November 12, 2020 Kyocera Corp of Kyoto, Japan (which manufactures fine ceramic components) has agreed to acquire SLD Laser of Goleta, near Santa Barbara, CA, USA (formerly Soraa Laser Diode Inc), which plans to begin operating as a Kyocera group company upon approval of regulatory authorities regarding national anti-trust and investment regulations. Soraa Laser was spun off in… Read More
  • Infineon forecasts strong sales rebound after coronavirus slump November 8, 2020 - Reuters November 8, 2020 German chipmaker Infineon forecast double-digit revenue growth for the year ahead, sending its shares higher even as management proposed to trim the dividend to account for the blow inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Munich-based power chip specialist ditched its financial guidance in March as the coronavirus hit - just before its $10 billion acquisition of… Read More
  • Intel’s success came with making its own chips. Until now November 7, 2020 - Mint November 7, 2020 Intel Corp., more than any other company, represents the historical silicon in “Silicon Valley." It has held its reign not only by designing compelling new circuitry but also by etching it into silicon at its own factories. It was orthodoxy inside Intel. To thrive, it had to remain the maker of its flagship chips that are… Read More
  • Qualcomm on the Edge November 6, 2020 - EE Times November 6, 2020 Qualcomm’s investment in the next-gen cloud infrastructure and edge computing signals the company’s ambition to own the entire mobile compute chain: handset, connection and edge computing. This week, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf enthusiastically shared his company’s latest financial results, and $6.5 billion in revenue was about $200 million better than expected for their fourth quarter, an… Read More
  • The Future of Semiconductor Manufacturing November 6, 2020 - EE Times November 6, 2020 While internal manufacturing made sense in the earlier days of the industry, consolidation and speed-to-market success in foundries have enabled leading semiconductor companies to compete successfully without their own manufacturing fabs. Most semiconductor companies nowadays do not have their own fabs — and they don’t need to. Foundries provide the scale, breadth and diversity needed.… Read More
  • How China’s would-be silicon savior became a debt-ridden disappointment October 30, 2020 - SupChina October 30, 2020 The Chinese semiconductor startup HSMC (Wuhan Hongxin Semiconductor Manufacturing) managed to hire the engineers and even a senior executive of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s biggest chipmaker, and attract billions of yuan in government investment and subsidies. It could have been a highlight of China’s efforts in building domestic semiconductor manufacturing capability amid upgrading… Read More
  • Q3 Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 11 Percent Compared to Q2 October 30, 2020 - SIA October 30, 2020 The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors totaled $113.6 billion during the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 11.0 percent over the previous quarter and 5.8 percent more than the third quarter of 2019. Global sales for the month of September 2020 were $37.9 billion, an increase of 4.5 percent over… Read More
  • Output of Taiwan’s IC industry expected to grow over 20% in 2020 October 27, 2020 - FocusTaiwan October 27, 2020 The production value of Taiwan's integrated circuit (IC) industry is expected to grow more than 20 percent from a year earlier in 2020 on the back of solid global demand for emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things applications, the Industrial Economics and Knowledge Center (IEK) said Tuesday. Citing the results… Read More
  • AMD Confirms Rumored Acquisition of Xilinx October 27, 2020 - EETimes October 27, 2020 AMD said it is buying Xilinx for $35 billion, confirming the news leak several weeks ago. AMD made it clear that this deal is all about high performance computing (HPC): it was the headline of its announcement; it is at the top of AMD’s web site today; and it was the first thing CEO Lisa Su… Read More
  • Regaining The Edge In U.S. Chip Manufacturing October 26, 2020 - Semiconductor Engineering October 26, 2020 The United States is developing new strategies to prevent it from falling further behind Korea, Taiwan, and perhaps even China in semiconductor manufacturing, as trade tensions and national security concerns continue to grow. For years, the U.S. has been a leader in the development of new chip products like GPUs and microprocessors. But from a… Read More
  • SK-Intel NAND deal points to wider shake-up of chip sector October 23, 2020 - Nikkei Asia October 23, 2020 The announcement on Oct. 20 that U.S. chipmaker Intel will sell its NAND flash memory business to South Korea's SK Hynix for $9 billion appears to be a move toward greater consolidation in the industry. It may also be remembered as the first step in Intel's shift away from an integrated device manufacturing, or IDM, business… Read More
  • China to curb ‘chaos’ in semiconductor industry and hold bosses accountable for risky, loss-making projects October 20, 2020 - South China Morning Post October 20, 2020 China will strengthen supervision of new entrants into its “chaotic” semiconductor industry following a number of high-profile collapses during Beijing’s push to reduce its reliance on imports by boosting investment in home-grown computer chip development and manufacturing. Meng Wei, a spokeswoman with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said that some companies… Read More
  • How did Intel lose its Silicon Valley crown? October 17, 2020 - Market Watch October 17, 2020 Intel Corp. is still the dominant provider of chips for personal computers and servers, but its reign as the chip king of Silicon Valley has ended, and the unresolved question is whether its woes stem from reaching the limits of technology, the people in charge or a mixture of both. The chip giant announced a… Read More
  • TSMC raises revenue forecast, citing robust 5G demand October 16, 2020 - Taipei Times October 16, 2020 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the sole chip supplier for Apple Inc’s iPhone series, yesterday raised its revenue forecast again, saying that robust demand for 5G smartphones and high-performance-computing (HPC) would help boost revenue this year by 30 percent in US dollar terms. Three months ago, the chipmaker estimated that revenue would grow 20… Read More
  • Semiconductor Industry Announces Research and Funding Priorities to Sustain U.S. Leadership in Chip Technology October 15, 2020 - Semiconductor Industry Association October 15, 2020 The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) today released a preview of their upcoming “Decadal Plan for Semiconductors,” a report outlining chip research and funding priorities over the next decade that will help strengthen U.S. semiconductor technology and spur growth in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced… Read More
  • Chip machine maker ASML posts growth despite COVID-19 October 15, 2020 - Taipei Times October 15, 2020 Dutch microchip machine maker ASML Holding NV yesterday reported better-than-expected third-quarter sales, with the tech sector still fueling demand despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is the world’s leading provider of systems used by the semiconductor industry to manufacture the chips that go in products from mobile phones to cars, and its performance is seen… Read More
  • Wafer Shipments Head for Record Increases October 14, 2020 - EETimes October 14, 2020 Worldwide wafer shipments, as with most global IC market segments, are up and heading for record increases over the next 18 months, according to the latest in a series of rosy forecasts by a semiconductor industry group. SEMI also reported earlier in October that the EDA industry revenue jumped a healthy 12.6 percent during the second… Read More
  • TSMC revenue hits second consecutive record high October 9, 2020 - TaipeiTimes October 9, 2020 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), a supplier to Apple Inc, yesterday reported a record high revenue of NT$127.59 billion (US$4.4 billion) for last month, up 3.8 percent month-on-month and 24.9 percent year-on-year. Last month’s figure marked the second consecutive monthly record, after reaching NT$122.88 billion in August, the company said. TSMC, the world’s largest contract… Read More
  • 5G Rollout on a Steady Ramp Toward Big Growth October 9, 2020 - EETimes October 9, 2020 Mobile network operators in many parts of the world have done a decent job rolling out 5G technology and are beginning to reap needed returns on their huge investments. According to the latest figures from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), at least 101 mobile operators in 44 countries or territories have launched one or more… Read More
  • AMD Is in Advanced Talks to Buy Xilinx October 8, 2020 - The Wall Street Journal October 8, 2020 Advanced Micro Devices Inc. is in advanced talks to buy rival chip maker Xilinx Inc., according to people familiar with the matter, in a deal that could be valued at more than $30 billion and mark the latest big tie-up in the rapidly consolidating semiconductor industry. The companies are discussing a deal that… Read More
  • Huang ‘Confident’ Nvidia-Arm Deal Will Get Past Regulators October 8, 2020 - EETimes October 8, 2020 Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is confident that the Nvidia-Arm deal, the biggest in semiconductor history at $40 billion, will get past global regulators. Speaking during a “fireside chat” as part of Arm Dev Summit, the company’s developer conference, Huang said that the two companies are complementary and as such, the acquisition would drive innovation forward and… Read More
  • Samsung delivers forecast-beating Q3 performance on mobile, chip recovery October 8, 2020 - Yonhap News Agency October 8, 2020 Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday expected market-forecast beating third-quarter earnings as its chip business apparently remained solid despite a decline in memory prices, and its mobile sales bounced back on pent-up demand amid the pandemic. In its earnings guidance, the South Korean tech giant estimated its operating profit at 12.3 trillion won (US$10.6 billion)… Read More
  • Global smartphone shipments to see double-digit growth in 2021, says Digitimes Research October 7, 2020 - Digitimes October 7, 2020 Following three consecutive years of declines in 2018-2020, global smartphone shipments are expected to grow by a double-digit rate or 150 million units in 2021, bolstered by renewed efforts to build infrastructure and accelerate commercial operations for 5G in Japan, Western Europe and the US, according to Digitimes Research. Looking into the next five years, replacement… Read More
  • Samsung Electronics Clinches Another Foundry Order from Qualcomm October 7, 2020 - BusinessKorea October 7, 2020 Samsung Electronics has clinched another foundry deal from Qualcomm Technologies Inc. to produce its mobile application processors. Last month, it won a 1 trillion won order from Qualcomm to produce its next-generation premium application processor (AP), the Snapdragon 875. This time, it won a contract to manufacture the Snapdragon 750, a 5G-capable AP for mid- to… Read More
  • Apple announces ‘speed’ event next week, new iPhones expected October 6, 2020 - Reuters October 6, 2020 Apple Inc AAPL.O said on Tuesday it would hold a special event on Oct. 13, which most analysts believe will be used to unveil new iPhones with 5G capabilities. Apple hinted at new, faster networking capabilities in the invitation for the event, which read: “Hi, Speed.” In years past, Apple has announced new iPhones in mid-September and started… Read More
  • IFTLE 463: DoD Focuses on “Reshoring” Electronics to the US October 5, 2020 - 3DInCites October 5, 2020 The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched its Electronic Resurgence Initiative (ERI) in 2017 with the intention of reshoring a domestic chip industry that has been moving steadily offshore for decades. Microelectronics are a foundational building block of most of our defense systems Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment At this… Read More
  • Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 4.9 Percent Year-to-Year in August October 5, 2020 - PR Newswire October 5, 2020 The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors were $36.2 billion in August 2020, 4.9 percent more than the August 2019 total of $34.5 billion and 3.6 percent higher than the July 2020 total of $35.0 billion. Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average. SIA represents 95 percent of the U.S. semiconductor industry… Read More
  • Korean chipmakers to benefit from U.S. restrictions on China’s SMIC: analysts October 3, 2020 - Yonhap News Agency October 3, 2020 South Korea's chipmakers are expected to benefit from the United States' export restrictions against China's leading foundry firm, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), analysts here said Saturday, as the ban could give them more opportunities to secure orders. The U.S. Commerce Department recently added SMIC to its blacklist, saying that exports to the Chinese… Read More
  • Foundry Boom Highlights Strategic Chip Technology October 1, 2020 - Pulled from EEtimes October 1, 2020 As semiconductors move front and center in the technology Cold War with China, readers need look no further than recent foundry sales forecasts to see how chip prowess underpins everything from AI to 5G wireless. Pure-play foundry sales are forecast to jump 19 percent this year after declining 1 percent in 2019 and registering… Read More
  • Tech investors predict Nvidia’s $40 billion Arm acquisition will be blocked October 1, 2020 - Pulled from CNBC October 1, 2020 LONDON – Nvidia’s $40 billion acquisition of chip designer Arm will most likely be blocked, according to two technology investors and artificial intelligence experts. In the “State of AI” report published Thursday, Nathan Benaich and Ian Hogarth list eight predictions for the industry over the next 12 months. One of those predictions is: “Nvidia does… Read More
  • Global IC foundry output to surge 17% in 2020, says Digitimes Research September 30, 2020 - Pulled from Digitimes September 30 by Eric Chen The global IC foundry industry output is forecast to increase 17% to US$70 billion in 2020, and rise another 6.8% in 2021, according to Digitimes Research's latest report. Despite the coronavirus pandemic and US-China trade tensions' impacts on the global semiconductor supply chain and overall demand, the output in 2020 will still… Read More
  • Chip Industry Wants $50 Billion to Keep Manufacturing in U.S. September 17, 2020 - Pulled from Semiconductor Packaging News WASHINGTON—Sept. 16, 2020—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), today released a study analyzing the impact of proposed federal incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The report, titled Government Incentives and U.S. Competitiveness in Semiconductor Manufacturing, finds robust federal incentives would reverse the decades-long trajectory of declining chip production in America… Read More
  • What A Difference a Quarter Makes! September 14, 2020 - Pulled from 3DInCites Sep 14, 2020 · By Dean Freeman At the end of the 1st quarter and into early June, the thinking was that the semiconductor and packaging industry would have a rough 2020, or at least back-to-back down years. The impact of Covid-19, supply chain interruptions, and uncertainty surrounding Huawei all were creating fear, uncertainty, and doubt about how the… Read More
  • Global Semiconductor Sales Increase 4.9 Percent Year-to-Year in July September 3, 2020 - Pulled from Semiconductor Industry Association Thursday, Sep 03, 2020, 4:30pm Worldwide sales in July increase 2.1 percent on a month-to-month basis as all major regional markets post sales increases WASHINGTON—Sept. 3, 2020—The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors were $35.2 billion in July 2020, 4.9 percent more than the July 2019 total of $33.5 billion and… Read More
  • Meeting Increasing Performance Requirements in Embedded Applications with Scalable Multicore Processors August 24, 2020 - Pulled From EETimes By Synopsys  08.24.2020  There is a transformation occurring in high-end embedded applications as processing spreads from the cloud to the edge and the end points of the Internet. Performance requirements are increasing rapidly and changing the architecture of processors and how they are implemented in designs. This is behind the increased use of multicore processors to deliver higher performance.… Read More

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