Ezkey Market Flash #03
China’s Low-Cost SiC and Mature Chips Ignite Global Semiconductor Price War
China is rapidly expanding its production capacity in the mature semiconductor and niche substrate sectors, pushing prices to unprecedented lows and exerting significant pressure on the global chip industry.
The report, quoting a sales director at a German semiconductor equipment manufacturer, notes that two years ago, Wolfspeed’s mainstream 6-inch silicon carbide (SiC) wafers were priced at USD 1,500 per piece.
However, Chinese suppliers are now offering them for as low as USD 500 per wafer, or even less.
Trump Administration Reportedly Eyes Stricter Chip Export Curbs on China, With TEL and ASML in Focus
The Trump administration is reportedly weighing tighter semiconductor export restrictions in an effort to further suppress China’s chip industry.
Trump administration officials have recently held discussions with Japanese and Dutch officials about potentially restricting engineers from Tokyo Electron and ASML from offering maintenance services for semiconductor equipment in China.
China Advances in AI Chips: Huawei Reportedly Boosts Yield to 40%, Making Ascend Line Profitable
China appears to be quickly catching up in the memory sector, with CXMT and YMTC leading the charge.
Now, the country seems to be making strides in AI chips as well, an area dominated by U.S. giant NVIDIA.
According to the Financial Times, Huawei has boosted the yield of its latest AI chips to nearly 40%, doubling from 20% a year ago.
China Reportedly Overtakes South Korea in Semiconductor Tech, Dominating Even Memory Sector
According to Chosun Biz, citing a report published by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), as of last year, China has surpassed South Korea in foundational capabilities across all technology sectors, with the exception of advanced packaging.
The report states that in a further evaluation conducted in 2024, with 100% representing the highest level, South Korea’s high-density resistive memory technology scored 90.9%, trailing behind China’s 94.1%.
STMicroelectronics Partners with Amazon to Launch AI Data Center Photonics Chip
On February 20, STMicroelectronics (ST) announced the launch of a new computer chip targeting the rapidly growing AI data center equipment market.
The chip was developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
STMicroelectronics is focusing on the communications market with its “photonics chip,” designed to enhance transceiver speed and reduce power consumption in transceiver converters.
Advanced AI data centers require hundreds of thousands of such transceivers.
Nanya Technology Predicts 1H 2025 DRAM Rebound
DAccording to Economic Daily News, the DRAM market is expected to rebound in the first half of 2025, as noted by Pei-Ing Lee, President of DRAM manufacturer Nanya Technology.
Lee stated on the 26th that demand is gradually recovering in key application markets, including AI PCs, AI smartphones, and consumer electronics.
Lee further noted that advancements in AI robotics, AI servers, and edge AI computing are poised to provide additional momentum for the DRAM market, as highlighted in the report.
STMicroelectronics and Onsemi Struggle Amid Market Downturn, Cutting Thousands of Jobs
Power chipmakers are grappling with the downturn in the automotive chip market. According to a Bloomberg report, STMicroelectronics NV CEO Jean-Marc Chéry is facing pressure from the Italian government to step down, citing poor performance as the primary reason.
The report also highlights that the company was considering cutting up to 3,000 jobs due to a prolonged decline in demand.
Rohm Reveals 32-bit Audio DAC Tuned for High-Resolution Playback
Rohm Semiconductor recently revealed a new 32-bit DAC IC, the BD34302EKV, to its MUS-IC series.
The second generation IC builds on the successes of its predecessor, the BD34301EKV, and targets use in high-resolution audio playback.
This allows the new IC to provide a more realistic audio experience.
Vishay Launches High-Voltage MLCCs forCommercial Use
Vishay has introduced a new series ofsurface-mountmultilayerceramic chip capacitors (MLCCs)for high voltage commerciaapplications.
Offered in sevencase sizes ranging from 1206 to2225, .... 1HV High VoltageMLCC Commercial Series devicesextend the capacitance values othe company's existing high voltage MLCCs with the ultra stable C0G (NP0) dielectricand are also available with the X7R dielectric for even higher capacitance.