01. DRAM and NAND flash oversupply improving
The surplus of DRAM and NAND flash memory has dramatically improved since the third quarter, with the oversupply ratio likely to turn negative as early as the fourth quarter, according to industry observers.
02. Sumitomo will produce SiC wafers
August 2, 2023, Japanese auto supplier Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. will start producing energy-efficient silicon carbide wafers for next-generation semiconductors that are expected to extend the range of electric vehicles by 10%, according to Nikkei Asia.
03. Murata builds new production building for MLCC in the Philippines
August 2, 2023, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. announced that its manufacturing subsidiary, Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc. will begin construction of a new production building in August 2023. According to Murata, the construction of the new production building is aimed at developing the capacity to accommodate increased demand for multilayer ceramic capacitors over the medium and long term.
04. Infineon takes on Wolfspeed for world’s largest SiC fab in €5bn battle
Infineon Technologies is looking to overtake Wolfspeed with the world’s largest fab making silicon carbide (SiC) devices.
Over the next five years Infineon will invest up to €5bn into its fab in Kulim, Malaysia, during a second construction phase for Module Three. This is over and above the original investment announced in February 2022 and will create the world’s largest 200mm SiC plant says the company.
05. India's import restrictions of notebooks and tablets to hit Apple
Amid Apple's rapid growth in India, India's surprising measure to restrict imports of PCs will hit Apple the most. After Micron's ATMP plan in India, more companies have shown interest in investing in India.
06. Huawei to restart 5G mobile chip output as early as this year
Huawei Technologies aims to restart making cutting-edge mobile chips as early as this year, even as the U.S. and its allies further restrict China's access to key tools and tech used to churn out semiconductors.
07. South Korea's semiconductor exports plunge 34% in July
August 4, 2023, The report cited data released by the South Korean Ministry of Trade on August 1, showing that South Korea's exports in July fell by 16.5% year-on-year. Among them, semiconductor exports fell by 34%, which was worse than the 28% decline in the previous month. In terms of export regions, South Korea's exports to China fell by 25.1% in July, and exports to the United States fell by 8.1%.