01. Memory Chips See Up to 70% Price Hike
On September 11, according to a comprehensive report from Semiconductor Industry Observer, the memory market is experiencing price increases during the peak season for the electronics industry in the second half of the year, with an expected quarterly increase of 20% to 50% in the fourth quarter. Nanya Tech's contract prices surged by 70% quarter-on-quarter in the third quarter and are set to rise by another 50% in the fourth quarter; Winbond Electronics saw a 60% increase in the third quarter and is expected to see another 20% increase in the fourth quarter. The supply-demand imbalance for DDR4 products has been established due to production cuts and shutdowns. Taiwanese companies Nanya Tech and Winbond Electronics are bucking the trend by increasing production capacity, with their market share expected to rise significantly by 2026.
02. Nvidia and Apple: Taiwan's Semiconductor Industry Welcomes the Boom
With the arrival of the fourth-quarter electronics peak season, there is a flurry of positive news for consumer electronics stocks, such as Acer launching new AI laptops, Samsung unveiling a triple-foldable phone and AI glasses, and Apple releasing new iPhone models and upgraded AI versions of Siri. These developments are expected to drive up the stock prices of Taiwanese semiconductor companies and Apple's supply chain. Google Gemini's "nano banana" AI drawing function has also received praise, fueling the growth in demand for AI chips and memory. The rapid expansion of global AI infrastructure investment is bringing new business opportunities to Taiwan's semiconductor industry, with related beneficiary stocks seeing a continuous surge in demand.
03. NXP Relocates Hamburg Headquarters to Strengthen Automotive and Industrial Chip Development
On September 8, according to SemiMedia, NXP Semiconductors plans to relocate its headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, to a new site in Barrenfeld to enhance the development of automotive, industrial, and IoT semiconductors. The new facility is expected to be operational in early 2031 and will accommodate over 800 employees. The new campus will integrate NXP's centers of expertise in system-on-chip security, edge AI, robotics, health applications, and system innovation, and will feature a terahertz laboratory for the development of mobile communication and automotive radar technology. Its proximity to the Hamburg Science Park will deepen NXP's role in the region's high-tech ecosystem.
04. MediaTek Wins Major Apple Watch Order, First to Supply 5G Modem Chips
On September 8, the Economic Daily reported that MediaTek has entered Apple Watch's supply chain for the first time, supplying 5G standalone modem chips using low-power Redcap technology. This marks a comprehensive upgrade for the Apple Watch product line, with the high-end Ultra model introducing 5G and satellite communication features for the first time. MediaTek has already placed orders for at least 5 million chipsets with the supply chain, and if Apple's products are in short supply, there is potential for additional orders.
05. IQE Considers Selling the Company Due to Slowing Smartphone Market
On September 9, UK-based compound semiconductor wafer manufacturer IQE announced that it is considering selling the company due to declining profit expectations caused by the slowdown in smartphone demand. Its share price fell by 12% in early trading. IQE is a supplier of wafers for Apple iPhone's facial recognition sensors and has previously taken measures such as debt reduction and production relocation in response to tariffs and market slowdowns. In the second quarter of 2024, global smartphone shipments grew by only 1%, and the market is expected to remain sluggish in 2025. IQE expects annual revenue of between £90 million and £100 million, with core profits ranging from a loss of £5 million to a profit of £2 million, both lower than previously anticipated.
06. Microsoft Places $20 Billion Order with Nebius, GIGABYTE and ADATA Also Benefit
On September 10, the Economic Daily reported that Microsoft has signed a nearly $20 billion contract with Nebius to obtain AI cloud computing resources. GIGABYTE, a major supplier to Nebius, has secured a share of the order, and ADATA has also entered the supply chain through its cooperation with GIGABYTE. Nebius, which was spun off from Russian internet giant Yandex, saw its stock price soar by 50% after securing the Microsoft order. GIGABYTE has long supplied AI servers to Yandex and will continue to ship products to Nebius after its reorganization. ADATA, in collaboration with a GIGABYTE subsidiary, is building a server production line in Brazil and is expected to supply memory products to Nebius.