Following TSMC’s recent acquisition of Innolux’s Tainan plant for NTD 17 billion, another Taiwanese panel maker, AUO, announced on August 27 that it will sell three idled manufacturing facilities in Tainan, Southern Taiwan as well, as memory giant Micron emerged as the buyer.

Part of buildings and facilities located in Taichung, central Taiwan, would also be sold to Micron. According to a report from Economic Daily News, the total transaction amount is NTD 8.1 billion, with an estimated profit of NTD 4.718 billion, as the deal is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The same report indicates that after Micron’s failed attempt to acquire Innolux’s 4th Plant in Tainan (5.5-generation LCD panel plant), it turned to AUO for a plant purchase.

To focus on its operational strategy, revitalize assets, and optimize its financial structure, AUO’s board of directors has approved the sale, the report suggests. By acquiring the facilities, Micron plans to further expand its DRAM business in Taiwan, with expectations to develop high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI applications.

Industry sources cited by the report have further interpreted the recent plant sales by Taiwan’s leading panel manufacturers as a sign of the rising influence of Chinese LCD companies like BOE and CSOT.

With the Chinese companies dominating the LCD industry, Taiwanese panel manufacturers are moving away from volume-based competition and are gradually selling off plants to mitigate risks associated with price fluctuations in the panel market. Micron’s active investments in Taiwan further strengthen the country’s semiconductor cluster advantage.

Reportedly, AUO pointed out that it originally had three color filter plants in Tainan: the Gen-4 C4A, the Gen-5 C5D, and the Gen-6 C6C.

Among them, the C5D and C6C plants were closed last August, leaving only the C4A plant in production. All three plants are being sold to Micron, with the C4A plant continuing operations under a sale-and-leaseback arrangement.

Micron stated that its operations in Taiwan are designed to meet the growing product demands of the AI era and to reinforce Micron’s market leadership. Through this acquisition, Micron plans to leverage this site to focus on front-end wafer testing,  to supporting the ongoing expansion of DRAM production at Micron’s Taichung and Taoyuan facilities.

Read more

• [News] Micron Advances in Acquiring Innolux’s Southern Taiwan Facility After TSMC Outbids It for the G5.5 Plant
• [News] TSMC Acquires Innolux’s Plant in Southern Taiwan to Expand Advanced Packaging Capacity

(Photo credit: Micron)

According to a report from TechNews, after Innolux shut down its 5.5-generation plant last year, it initially planned to sell the facility to memory giant Micron. However, TSMC successfully acquired Innolux’s 4th Plant in Tainan and its associated facilities, with a transaction value of NTD 17.14 billion.

Despite this, industry sources cited by TechNews have hinted that Micron is still moving forward with plans to establish a facility in Tainan. They are reportedly negotiating with Innolux regarding the Tainan site and have begun subsequent planning.

Reportedly, it is known that Micron had previously approached AUO to inquire about the Tainan color filter fab, but this is still considered to be in the site-selection phase, with Longtan also mentioned as a possible location.

Given the high demand for Micron’s HBM products and persistent rumors about expanding in Taiwan, new facility construction seems necessary to accelerate HBM market penetration.

Additionally, Micron’s Taiwan Chairman, Donghui Lu, has publicly stated that Taiwan is a crucial part of Micron’s global advanced process and packaging strategy. Besides expanding in Taiwan and Japan, Micron is also considering further expansion in the United States.

Regarding inquiries about Micron, Innolux has stated that it does not comment on market rumors.

Industry source cited by TechNews have anticipated that Innolux’s continued reduction in capacity is expected, though the timeline for shutting down facilities remains undecided.

On August 15th, TSMC officially announced the acquisition of Innolux’s 5.5G manufacturing facility in Tainan, Taiwan, for NTD 17.14 billion.

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• [News] TSMC Acquires Innolux’s Plant in Southern Taiwan to Expand Advanced Packaging Capacity
• [News] Innolux Targets to Begin FOPLP Mass Production by Year-End

(Photo credit: Micron)

According to a report from TechNews, in response to the temporary power outage caused by a severe thunderstorm on the afternoon of August 13th, memory manufacturer Nanya Technology announced on the evening of August 14th that the outage led to a halt in some machinery operations.

As emergency measures and safety checks were immediately implemented, all of Nanya Technology’s employees are safe, and the company is working to restore operations, which are expected to resume within 2-3 days.

Still, the power outage had led to damage to wafers, equipment repairs, and production interruptions, with an estimated loss of NTD 300-500 million (roughly USD 9.3 – 15.5 million). The exact figure will be confirmed after further assessment.

On the day of the power outage on August 13th, TechNews already reported that Nanya Technology’s plant experienced a 20-minute power outage during the incident. The uninterruptible power supply (UPS) was activated, minimizing damage in the photolithography and etching areas. However, sites without UPS are still being assessed for potential impacts.

On the other hand, memory giant Micron only experienced a voltage sag and reported no significant issues. Micron further stated that the voltage sag at its Taiwan facility due to the August 13th incident did not cause any harm to employees, and operations remain normal.

Read more

• [News] Taiwan Faces Temporary Power Outage in Certain Areas, while Rumors Hint at Potential Impact on Micron Equipment
• [News] Nanya Technology Chairman Names 10nm 1B Process as Key Expansion Focus for the Year

(Photo credit: Nanya Technology)

On August 13th, as per a report from Wallstreetcn citing industry sources, it’s indicated that SK hynix has raised the price of its DDR5 DRAM by 15% to 20%. Per the sources, the price hike by hynix is primarily due to the production capacity being squeezed by HBM3/3e. Additionally, the increased orders for AI servers downstream have also strengthened SK hynix’s resolve to raise DDR5 prices.

According to industry sources cited by Economic Daily News, for Taiwanese manufacturers, Nanya Technology has recently started mass production of DDR5, just in time to benefit from this price surge. Module makers such as ADATA and Team Group are also likely to see gains from low-cost inventory.

Nanya Technology has begun shipping its 16Gb DDR5, developed using its 1B process. Nanya Technology is optimistic that the DRAM market is on a clear path to recovery. This may due to last year’s production cuts by the three major memory manufacturers—Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron—as well as the strong demand for HBM driven by generative AI. The resulting chain reaction is expected to positively impact various types of DRAM.

SK hynix previously announced that its entire HBM production capacity for 2024 has been fully booked, with almost all of its 2025 capacity also sold out. To meet customer demand, SK hynix plans to convert over 20% of its existing DRAM production lines to mass-produce HBM.

Samsung, on the other hand, is said to be actively trying to catch up with SK hynix, looking to allocate around 30% of its DRAM production capacity to HBM.

The significant adjustments by Samsung and SK hynix to their production lines have severely squeezed the capacity for DDR4 and DDR5 DRAM, potentially leading to a sharp reduction in supply and causing prices to rise. Reportedly, SK hynix’s price increase for DDR5 primarily targets contract prices.

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• [News] Nanya Technology Chairman Names 10nm 1B Process as Key Expansion Focus for the Year
• [News] DRAM Price Surge Halts, Could HBM Demand Drive Price Increases?

(Photo credit: Nanya Technology)

According to industry sources cited in a report from TechNews, a temporary power outage occurred in certain areas in northern Taiwan (Linkou, Taishan, Xinzhuang) at 1:35 PM on August 13.

Addressing the matter, DRAM manufacturer Nanya Technology is currently assessing the damage, while Micron, on the other hand, has experienced voltage sag and reports no issues at this time. Still, some rumors have suggested that parts of Micron’s dry etching and wet process equipment has been affected.

Industry sources cited by TechNews mentioned that Nanya Technology’s plant experienced a power outage lasting about 20 minutes but activated its Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system. The photolithography and etching areas are expected to be minimally affected, but the non-UPS sites are still under assessment.

Currently, Nanya Technology is still confirming the extent of the damage.

According to an industry assessment cited by TechNews, the impact of this power outage on Nanya Technology is limited, with existing inventory, the production lines can continue to supply products.

Read more

• [News] HBM Supply Shortage Prompts Micron’s Expansion, Expected Schedule in Japan and Taiwan Revealed
• [News] Nanya Technology Chairman Names 10nm 1B Process as Key Expansion Focus for the Year

(Photo credit: Micron)