Amid a gradual recovery in the memory market, South Korean memory giants Samsung and SK Hynix are reportedly set to expand their equipment investments significantly next year.

Samsung aims for a 25% increase in investment, while SK Hynix plans to more than double its investment compared to this year, concurrently increasing production capacity, sparking industry attention.

According to South Korean media outlet ETNEWS, both Samsung and SK Hynix are planning to boost semiconductor equipment investments in 2024. Samsung’s investment is estimated at around KRW 27 trillion (approximately USD 20.78 billion), representing a 25% growth, while SK Hynix plans an investment of around KRW 5.3 trillion (approximately USD 4.07 billion), signaling a 100% increase from this year’s investment.

As ETNEWS’ report revealed, in addition to increasing equipment investment, Samsung and SK Hynix have also raised their production capacity targets for 2024. Samsung plans to expand both DRAM and NAND Flash production by approximately 24%, while SK Hynix aims to elevate DRAM output to levels seen by the end of 2022.

Looking at market share, according to TrendForce’s released data, in terms of third-quarter revenue figures, Samsung holds approximately 38.9% market share in DRAM, while SK Hynix stands at 34.3%.

In the NAND segment, Samsung holds approximately 31.4% market share, while SK Hynix stands at 20.2%.

Market concerns arise as the memory industry, which has recently seen relief from the long-standing oversupply pressure due to major manufacturers reducing production, faces the possibility of disruption once again. Amid the rebound in prices, the significant investments planned by the two major South Korean companies are causing apprehension that the memory industry may face new challenges.

Memory industry sources believe that despite Samsung and SK Hynix’s plans to increase semiconductor equipment investment and boost production capacity in 2024, the tool-in still take time. Improving production capacity utilization is not an instantaneous process.

Furthermore, there is a general consensus in the industry that several AI-related applications in the future will require large-capacity memory support. For instance, the expected 3% growth in global smartphone shipments (based on TrendForce’s report) next year is anticipated to contribute to the expansion of demand in the high-value memory market.

TrendForce also pointed out that recent news about memory manufacturers expanding investment and increasing production capacity is primarily driven by the growing demand in the HBM market, rather than capacity expansion for all products.

Read more

• NAND Flash Industry Revenue Grows 2.9% in 3Q23, Expected to Surge Over 20% in Q4, Says TrendForce
• Contract Prices Bottom Out in Q3, Reigniting Buyer Momentum and Boosting DRAM Revenue by Nearly 20%, Says TrendForce

(Photo credit: Samsung)

Affected by the year-end and relatively sluggish demand, spot prices of DRAM and NAND Flash have shown a hovering trend this week. Details are as follows:

DRAM Spot Market:

With the year ending, some DRAM suppliers have released more their existing stocks into the spot market in order to lower their inventories further. As a result, spot prices of DRAM chips on the whole have fallen slightly. Currently, spot prices are still mostly hovering because buyers have yet to increase procurement quantities despite the rally of contract prices. The average spot price of the mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) rose by 0.11% from US$1.745 last week to US$1.747 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market:

The spot market, bearing resemblances to that of DRAM, lacks drivers for a continuous increase in prices due to buyers’ stagnated purchase sentiment at the end of the year. Fortunately, the market is currently at a price correction phase as provision remains exceedingly restricted among suppliers due to their unchanged reluctance in sales. 512Gb TLC wafer spots have risen by 1.62% this week, arriving at US$3.075.

As TSMC, Samsung, and Intel compete fiercely in the race for 2nm advanced processes, a new wave of the “battle for crucial equipment” is simultaneously unfolding.

According to South Korean reports, ASML, the leader in semiconductor advanced lithography equipment, plans to manufacture ten equipment capable of producing 2nm chips next year, while aiming to increase its annual production capacity to 20 devices in the coming years.

Intel has secured up to six of the 10, taking the lead, while Samsung is also actively pursuing the procurement of the equipment. TSMC faces significant pressure in this competitive landscape.

South Korean tech media SamMobile has unveiled that as major semiconductor manufacturers announce plans to start producing 2nm chips in 2025, ASML is set to unveil equipment capable of manufacturing chips using the 2nm process in the coming months.

The latest extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment is expected to increase the numerical aperture (NA) from 0.33 to 0.55. This enhancement improves the light-collecting capability of the optical system, enabling semiconductor fabs to utilize advanced patterning techniques for the production of 2nm process chips.

ASML is the sole global manufacturer of advanced EUV equipment for processes at 7nm. These equipment are not only expensive, costing several million dollars each, but they also have limited production capacity.

It has led to high demand from major semiconductor manufacturers like Samsung, Intel, and TSMC. Currently, only five chipmakers globally, including TSMC, Samsung, SK Hynix, Intel, and Micron, require EUV equipment, with TSMC accounting for 70% of EUV purchases.

Consequently, Samsung is actively pursuing collaboration and has signed a historic agreement with ASML to jointly invest KRW 1 trillion (approximately USD 755 million) in establishing a research and development facility in South Korea.

This collaboration aims to contribute to the development of Samsung’s 2nm process. Samsung plans to commence the production of 2nm process chips by the end of 2025 after acquiring the 2nm manufacturing equipment.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kyung Kye-hyun, who heads the Device Solutions Division, emphasized that the new agreement with ASML will assist Samsung in acquiring the next-generation high NA EUV equipment.

Kyung said, “Samsung has secured a priority over the High-NA equipment technology. (From the trip), I believe we created an opportunity for us to optimize the usage of High-NA technology for our production of DRAM memory chips and logic chips in the long term.”

On the Intel front, as part of its IDM 2.0 strategy, it is executing a 5 nodes in four years process development plan. Intel emphasizes that its Intel 20A process is progressing towards volume production readiness as planned, while the Intel 18A process is scheduled to test production phase in the first quarter of next year.

Facing the strong competition from Samsung and Intel, TSMC is not sitting idle. According to reports citing from Financial Times, TSMC has showcased its 2nm prototype test results to major clients like Apple and NVIDIA.

TSMC previously mentioned in its earnings call that it expects the 2nm process to enter mass production as scheduled in 2025. The company’s 2nm backside power rail solution is scheduled for the latter half of 2025, with mass production slated for 2026.

Read more

• [News] Samsung’s Discount Strategy Challenges TSMC as the Battle for 2nm Orders Heats Up
• [News] Samsung, ASML Invest KRW 1 Trillion in Korean Research Fab as Netherlands-Korea Semiconductor Alliance Formed

(Photo credit: ASML)

TSMC announced yesterday that Chairman Mark Liu will retire after the shareholders’ meeting in June 2024, and it is possible that CEO C.C. Wei will succeed him as chairman, according to TechNews.

While the news shocked the industry, insiders see it as somewhat expected. As early as March this year, the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) elected its 14th board of directors and appointed a new chairman, with TSMC’s Senior Vice President Dr. Cliff Hou taking over the position previously held by Mark Liu, who had served two terms as chairman of TSIA. This move was seen as a possible precursor to Mark Liu’s retirement and succession planning.

Apart from being close to 70 years old, Mark Liu’s retirement is rumored to be related to issues with TSMC’s progress in the United States. TSMC’s Arizona plant previously faced a shortage of skilled equipment installation workers, prompting TSMC to consider sending 500 Taiwanese technicians to assist.

However, locals interpreted this move as an attempt to introduce low-cost labor and compete for local jobs, leading to a standoff between TSMC and the local labor union.

On the other hand, while progress in TSMC’s Japanese factory is relatively smooth, there are reports indicating significant differences between TSMC’s management style and the customary Japanese approach, prompting locals to express discomfort, stating “not accustomed.”

Therefore, how TSMC continues to operate its overseas facilities after Mark Liu’s retirement next year poses a significant challenge.

Industry sources believe that TSMC’s biggest challenge lies in “culture.” Whether operating in the United States or Japan, it requires understanding and operating from the standpoint and perspective of the other party’s culture for smooth cultural integration.

It’s not surprising that Mark Liu mentioned the challenges of setting up plant in the United States, stating that Taiwan cannot only manage Taiwanese people; we must be able to manage people from around the world.

Additionally, international management requires an understanding of local culture, including language and management. In the future, TSMC will need to learn how to manage young talent, explaining “why” rather than following the traditional Taiwanese manufacturing approach of “you do what you are told.”

Mark Liu also mentioned before that TSMC is currently in the early stages of learning. The primary goal is to effectively manage factories, cultivate management team, and “every place has its way of doing things, which is what our management team needs to face.”

However, with TSMC facing the imminent retirement of Mark Liu and the sole leadership transition to C.C.Wei, how he will lead TSMC in effectively managing a global workforce will be the key focus in the industry.

(Photo credit: TSMC)

The global provider of connectivity and power solutions Qorvo announced that it has reached a definitive agreement with Luxshare Precision for the acquisition of Qorvo’s assembly and test facilities in Beijing and Dezhou, China.

According to Qorvo’s official news, the companies anticipate completing the transaction by the first half of calendar 2024, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other closing conditions.

Upon closing, Luxshare will acquire each facility’s operations and assets, which include the property, plant and equipment, as well as the existing workforce, to enable seamless continuity of operations. Qorvo will continue to maintain its sales, engineering and customer support employees in China to continue serving customers.

Following the close of the transaction, Luxshare will assemble and test products for Qorvo under a newly established long-term supply agreement. The Beijing and Dezhou facilities primarily support Qorvo’s highly integrated advanced cellular products.

Luxshare Precision Expected to Deepen Ties in Apple’s Supply Chain

Reportedly, to establish a presence in the Chinese Radio Frequency (RF) industry, Qorvo has set up facilities in Beijing and Dezhou, Shandong. The Dezhou facility is twice the size of the Beijing facility and is primarily engaged in the assembly, packaging, and testing of RF devices.

The product range includes RF switches, multiplexers, tuners, amplifiers, and various other series. At the time of the public information available, the Dezhou facility was responsible for packaging 75% of Qorvo products and testing 85%-90% of Qorvo products.

Now, Qorvo has decided to sell its Chinese factories, aiming to further reduce capital intensity, support the pursuit of long-term gross margin goals, and ensure continuity in serving Chinese customers.

This move aligns with the current development trends, and in the future, Qorvo intends to achieve continuous market presence in China and improve profitability through the collaboration with Luxshare Precision.

From the perspective of Luxshare Precision, one significant point of connection between Qorvo and its business lies in end customers. As widely known, one of Qorvo’s major clients is the consumer electronics giant Apple, and Luxshare Precision has been providing outsourced manufacturing services for Apple for many years, consistently deepening its integration into Apple’s supply chain.

Read more

• [News] Luxshare Doubles Business with 3 iPhone 15 Orders, Breaking Foxconn’s High-End Supply Dominance
• [News] Apple-Backed Luxshare Disrupts Foxconn’s Manufacturing Dominance with iPhone Production Shift

(Photo credit: Apple)