01. Clear Surge in DRAM; NAND Flash Relatively Calm
According to TrendForce’s latest report on memory spot price trends, the DRAM spot market is experiencing a clear upward trend driven by contract market demand. In contrast, the NAND Flash market appears relatively sluggish.
The significant rise in contract prices has also led to a corresponding increase in spot prices this week, and both DDR4 and DDR5 chips are experiencing a price rally.
The spot market of NAND Flash has been rather sluggish compared to that of DRAM. 3D wafers, having risen in prices for a long while, are relatively stagnated now, where the mainstream 512GB TLC is retained at approximately US$3.3.
02. Several new wafer fabs in Japan to come online in 2024
In 2024, numerous Japanese and foreign semiconductor manufacturers will commence mass production at newly constructed wafer fabrication facilities in Japan. Industry sources claim that this will stimulate the growth and development of domestic semiconductor.
03. Global PC and Smartphone market returns to growth in Q4 2023
According to Canalys’ latest research, worldwide smartphone shipments grew 8% year on year in the fourth quarter of 2023, reaching 320 million units. This ended seven consecutive quarters of decline.
The worldwide PC market ended its streak of annual shipment declines in the last quarter of 2023, posting a modest year-on-year growth of 3%. Total shipments of desktops and notebooks rose to 65.3 million units. Shipments of notebooks hit 51.6 million units, up 4% from 2022, while desktop shipments landed at 13.7 million units, declining 1%.
04. Market demand rebound slower than expected, TI says
January 25, 2024, According to Texas Instruments' latest financial report, revenue in the fourth quarter of last year dropped to US$4.08 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 13%; single-quarter net profit dropped by 30% to US$1.37 billion, lower than market expectations.
Texas Instruments' full-year sales shrank 13% last year, the largest decline in more than a decade. "Last quarter we experienced repeated weakening of demand across industries, and the automotive industry also experienced a continuous decline." Texas Instruments CEO Haviv Ilan pointed out.
TI said the demand environment remains weak and customers are expected to continue reducing chip inventories.
05. Kaga Toshiba expects to resume normal production in February
January 23, 2024, Toshiba has announced that the post-earthquake repairs of its Kaga Toshiba Electronics (located in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan) are expected to be completed by the end of January. Toshiba plans to return to pre-earthquake production capacity levels in February.
Kaga Toshiba Electronics is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation and is the main manufacturing base for power semiconductor front-end processes. The company's clean room exhaust pipes were extensively damaged in the earthquake.
The company said it is targeting mid-February for the resumption of other production lines and will try to move forward.
06. ST forecasts first-quarter revenue decline
January 26, 2024, According to reports, STMicroelectronics recently predicted that its revenue in the first quarter of 2024 will drop by more than 15%. The company's sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 were lower than expected due to slower growth in the automotive industry and further reductions in orders from the industrial sector.
"In the fourth quarter of 2023, our customer order volume declined compared to the third quarter. We continue to see stable demand in the automotive field, no significant growth in personal electronics, and further deterioration in the industrial field," Jean-Marc Chery, CEO of STMicroelectronics said.
07. Pegatron to set up manufacturing site in Malaysia
Contract electronics maker Pegatron has announced plans to build a plant in Malaysia, bringing the total number of its manufacturing sites in Southeast Asia to four.