Semiconductors

Dutch trade minister Liesje Schreinemacher discusses her country's semiconductor export controls during an interview in Tokyo on March 17. (Photo by Maya Shimizu)
Interview

Netherlands to tighten export controls of chip equipment: minister

Hague moves to block military use as U.S. calls for joint efforts against China

17 March 2023
The flags of South Korea and Japan are hoisted ahead of the arrival of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on March 16.
Japan-South Korea rift

Japan lifts chipmaking export controls on South Korea

Seoul drops WTO dispute process as Yoon and Kishida seek common ground in Tokyo

16 March 2023
Taiwan Vice President William Lai, left, TSMC founder Morris Chang, center, and author Chris Miller appear at an event in Taipei on March 16. 
Semiconductors

TSMC founder Morris Chang backs U.S. on China chip curbs

Ex-chair also says Washington does not see Taiwan as part of 'friendshoring' push

16 March 2023
Adam White, president of power and sensor systems at Infineon, told Nikkei Asia that Infineon is particularly optimistic about gallium nitride chips. (Photo by Cheng Ting-Fang)
Semiconductors

Infineon upbeat on next-gen power chips as broader market struggles

Gallium nitride and silicon carbide promise small, efficient and fast devices

16 March 2023
A new Kaga Electronics factory in Malaysia. The company aims to triple sales there by 2027. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)
Semiconductors

Japan semiconductor distributors eye expansion in emerging markets

India, Malaysia and Turkey become targets as home demand shrinks

16 March 2023
South Korea is home to Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest memory chip maker. (Photo by Karina Nooka)
Semiconductors

Samsung Electronics to build five new chip plants in South Korea

Government says $230bn plan to strengthen semiconductor supply chains

15 March 2023
China is focusing on automotive chips in its push to expand domestic semiconductor production. (Nikkei Montage)
Semiconductors

Chinese auto chips only: Inside Xi's self-sufficiency campaign

Government takes lead in developing semiconductor industry to rival U.S.

15 March 2023
A rendering of Mitsubishi Electric's planned semiconductor plant in Japan. The company is doubling its capital investments in power semiconductors. (Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Electric)
15 March 2023
Samsung's DRAM prices were down more than 30% at one point in the October-December quarter. (Photo courtesy of Samsung Electronics)
Semiconductors

Memory prices plunge despite growing 'datasphere'

Technological progress amplifies downward pressure on DRAM and flash

10 March 2023
Japan is working to protect domestic supply chains of strategic products, like semiconductors. (Photo by Masayuki Kozono)
Semiconductors

Japan to boost scrutiny over foreign investments in chips, batteries

Government to expand 'core' sector list to bolster economic security

10 March 2023
Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. is offering $52.7 billion in subsidies to bolster its domestic semiconductor industry.
Comment

Samsung faces dilemma on tough U.S. chip subsidy rules

China investment ban, fear of technology leaks complicate choice of accepting aid

9 March 2023
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, right, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken participate in a U.S.-European Union Trade and Technology Council ministerial meeting at the University of Maryland in December.
US-China tensions

U.S. CHIPS Act fund bars chipmakers from China expansion for 10 years

Washington also bans beneficiaries of $39bn program from using cash for share buybacks

28 February 2023
Rapidus President Atsuyoshi Koike, left, stands with Chairman Tetsuro Higashi after the chipmaker's first news conference last November. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Semiconductors

Japan's Rapidus picks Hokkaido for cutting-edge chip plant

Exclusive: New facility part of $37bn effort to create advanced 2-nm chips

27 February 2023
Qualcomm is collaborating with three major Chinese smartphone makers to put satellite-powered communications into their devices. (Photo courtesy of Qualcomm) 
MWC 2023

Qualcomm chips to power satellite tech in Chinese smartphones

Chipmakers from MediaTek to Samsung bring 'non-terrestrial' messaging to phones

27 February 2023
Soitec's factory expansion project, scheduled for completion in 2024, will add 45,000 square meters of floor space, including an office space, to the plant. (Illustration courtesy of Soitec)
Semiconductors

Chip industry doubles down on Singapore as production hub

Soitec, Applied Materials diversify supply chains to mitigate risks

26 February 2023
Sony is casting a wider net for talent letting hires work from home full time. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Semiconductors

Sony offers full remote work at chip unit to attract software talent

Company expands hunt for AI and cloud engineers nationwide

26 February 2023
Japanese automakers such as Honda and Mazda are heading into another grim year despite posting upbeat quarterly results for the end of 2022. (Source photos by Reuters)
Automobiles

Honda, Mazda on bumpy path to profit recovery amid chip crunch

Japanese automakers increasingly urged to shift to EVs as China's BYD leads

15 February 2023
Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp. (YMTC) has faced delays over constructing a second plant in Hubei province, China. (Photo by Shunsuke Tabeta)
Semiconductors

U.S. sanctions derail China chipmakers' expansion plans

Yangtze Memory and ChangXin forced to delay new factories and lay off staff

15 February 2023
SoftBank Group President Masayoshi Son has stated his preference for Arm is to list "on Nasdaq, the center of high-tech share trading." (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
SoftBank

SoftBank-owned Arm's rumored Nasdaq listing nags U.K. government

Loss of 'crown jewel' would underscore decline of London stock market

10 February 2023
U.S. export controls on advanced chipmaking equipment has made it harder for American providers to do business in China. (Photo courtesy of Applied Materials) 
Trade war

U.S. chip tool makers eye Southeast Asia as China business shrinks

Export controls drive shift as semiconductor industry suffers demand slump

10 February 2023
SMIC's lackluster October-December performance included revenue falling 15%, gross margin dropping to 32% and net income declining 18.1% on the quarter.
Semiconductors

China chipmaker SMIC sticks to expansion plans amid downturn

Industry facing 'severe' situation due to politics and weak demand, co-CEO says

10 February 2023
Hitachi High-Tech's new R&D center in Oregon is a 10-minute drive from an Intel chip plant. (Photo courtesy of the Hitachi group)
Semiconductors

Japan's chip equipment makers set up shop near Intel, TSMC and Samsung

Hitachi High-Tech, Kokusai Electric see value in proximity to top customers

8 February 2023
A power chip module produced by Rohm. Many countries increasingly see the domestic supply of semiconductors as crucial for economic security. (Photo courtesy of Rohm)
Semiconductors

Japan to subsidize domestic chipmaking beyond the cutting edge

$2.8bn plan covers EV-related chips, production equipment and materials

7 February 2023
A global downturn in the semiconductor industry is hurting SK Hynix and other chipmakers.
Semiconductors

SK Hynix posted $1.4bn loss in Q4, hit by semiconductor downturn

South Korean chipmaker suffers as DRAM prices tumble; outlook remains severe

1 February 2023
Semiconductors made by Samsung Electronics are a mainstay of the global technology industry. (Photo courtesy of Samsung Electronics) 
Semiconductors

Samsung Electronics Q4 profit plummets amid global chip downturn

South Korean tech giant's slump expected to continue in first half of this year

31 January 2023