01. Japan's June sales of chip-making equipment hit biggest drop in 3-1/2 years
July 27, 2023, According to reports, in June, the sales of Japanese chip manufacturing equipment manufacturers fell for the first time in five months, and it was the largest decline in three and a half years. The monthly sales hit a new low level in the past two years.
According to statistics released by the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ), the sales of Japanese-made chip equipment in June 2023 were 259.222 billion yen, a decrease of 8.9% from the same period last year, which was the first year-on-year shrinkage in five months. It hit a new low since August 2021 (250.758 billion yen), and the decline was the largest in about three and a half years.
However, during the period from January to June 2023, Japan's chip manufacturing equipment sales of 1,835.8 billion yen still hit a record high for the same period, an annual increase of 1.2%.
02. Intel foresees PC recovery in 2H23 as it achieves surprising profitability
Intel surprisingly turned a profit in the past quarter, and the company expected a healthy second half of the year as inventories are gradually back to normal levels and the PC market is likely hitting the bottom.
03. China's smartphone shipment decline seen easing in Q2 2023
According to market research firm Canalys' estimates, smartphone shipments in Mainland China fell by 5% year on year to 64.3 million units in Q2 2023. After taking control of inventory levels, Vivo retook first place with an 18% market share and 11.4 million shipments, helped by several new launches. OPPO (including OnePlus) followed closely with an 18% market share, driven by solid online performance and improved channel capabilities. Apple took third with 10.4 million iPhones shipped, followed closely by HONOR, with 10.3 million shipments. Xiaomi improved its market share sequentially to 13% and held on to fifth place.
04. Renesas keeps seeing uncertainties in automotive sector, saying SiC production will scale gradually
Renesas Electronics said on July 27 that uncertainties remain in the automotive sector, especially with changes in the Chinese market. The company also said it will go slow on its silicon carbide (SiC) production, planning to ship out samples in the third quarter of this year.
He also said the PC and consumer electronics segments have bottomed out and will likely see some modest growth from the third quarter of 2023 onward. As for data centers, the rapid switch to DDR5 memory is expected to create a significant increase in the next quarter.
05. TI cuts third-quarter revenue and profit forecast
July 27, 2023, According to Reuters, Texas Instruments (TI) forecast that revenue and profit in the third quarter of 2023 will be lower than the target due to the slow recovery of demand in the end market and the cancellation of orders by customers.
While TI topped expectations for revenue and profit in the second quarter, inflation and rising interest rates ate into spending across segments, including its major markets, industrial unit, which accounts for about 40% of its revenue. Currently, all end markets except automotive are weak.
Dave Pahl, TI's director of investor relations, said: "Order cancellations remain at high levels, and we believe customers are continuing to reduce inventory to better match their needs."
06. onsemi inks $1.95 billion supply deal with solar inverter makers
July 28, 2023, onsemi recently announced that it has signed a $1.95 billion long-term supply agreement (LTSA) with the world's leading solar inverter manufacturer for its smart power technology, contributing to onsemi’s position as the number one power semiconductor supplier in this rapidly growing market.
By offering superior die technology with optimized and customized module design and packaging, onsemi enables solar inverter providers to compete on time-to-market, product development, supply resilience and robust quality assurance. With these benefits, the company has signed LTSAs with eight of the top 10 solar inverter suppliers, emphasizing the reputation onsemi has earned as a trusted industry partner.
07. Infineon launches highly integrated radar sensor for consumer electronics, IoT applications and healthcare devices
July 28, 2023, Infineon Technologies AG has recently launched the new XENSIV? 60 GHz radar sensor BGT60UTR11AIP. With a compact size of only 16 mm2, it is the smallest 60 GHz radar sensor with antennas in package (AIP) on the market and is specifically designed for integration into the smallest devices.
This makes the sensor ideal for vital sensing (heart and respiratory rate) and healthcare devices such as baby monitors and sleep trackers. It is also suitable for consumer electronics such as laptops, TVs and cameras, as well as smart home and building devices such as air conditioners, thermostats and smart doorbells. The radar sensor can also be used in industrial applications including robotics and tank level measurement.