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October 29
- 群創整廠出售…不在計劃中➀ AI's strong demand for semiconductors has led to a shortage in advanced manufacturing capacity.➁ There are rumors that TSMC is interested in purchasing an entire factory from Chunghwa Picture Tubes, targeting the seventh factory in South Science Park.➃ Chunghwa Picture Tubes' spokesperson emphasized yesterday that the sale of the entire factory is not on their agenda.
February 23
- TSMC 2 Nanometer Production Capacity to Reach 80,000 Units by Year-End
➀ TSMC's 2nm process development is attracting attention, with market rumors suggesting that its monthly production capacity could reach 50,000 to 80,000 units by the end of the year;
➁ TSMC Chairman Wei Zhejia mentioned that Taiwan will continue to expand advanced process and packaging capacity, including the expansion of 3nm in Tainan and 2nm in Hsinchu and Kaohsiung;
➂ Market rumors suggest that TSMC's 2nm process is progressing rapidly and has entered the trial production stage, with an estimated monthly production capacity of 5,000 to 10,000 units at the Hsinchu Science Park factory.
October 28
- Hewlett Packard's Server Sales Skyrocket as They Adopt the 'World's Strongest AI Chip'
➀ HP's servers are experiencing a surge in sales due to the adoption of NVIDIA's 'world's strongest AI chip', the GB200;
➁ Major cloud service providers like Microsoft and Meta are actively introducing GB200 and expanding their purchases of the higher-end NVL72 cabinets;
➂ Foxconn, as the exclusive supplier of GB200 and NVL72 cabinets, is seeing a flood of orders and a significant boost in server business.
October 21
- Marvell Initiates First Price Increase in Optical Communication Sector, Sparking Bullish Sentiment
➀ Marvell, a major US network and optical communication company, has announced a price increase for all its product lines starting from January 1, 2025, in response to the surge in AI demand.
➁ The move is seen as an opportunity to capture market opportunities and continue investing in R&D of cutting-edge and innovative products.
➂ Marvell's strong financial performance in the last quarter, driven by high demand for ASICs and silicon photonics in cloud data centers, has outperformed market expectations.
October 9
- Samsung to Outsource HBM4 Technology to TSMC, says Morgan Stanley➀ Morgan Stanley predicts that Samsung will outsource its HBM4 base technology to TSMC in 2026; ➁ TSMC is expected to achieve a CAGR of 15%-20% in the next five years; ➂ TSMC is actively expanding its capacity due to strong demand; ➃ TSMC's capital expenditure is expected to increase to $38 billion in 2025.
October 8
- Honeywell Technology Day / Launching the AI Revolution Liu Yangwei: First to Ship GB200 AI Server➀ Honeywell's 2024 Technology Day kicks off with Chairman Liu Yangwei announcing the global first shipment of the NVIDIA GB200 AI server; ➁ Honeywell will become the first company to mass produce servers with these super chips, including key components, modules, and boards, servers, racks, high-performance switches, and AI data centers; ➂ Liu highlights the deep integration of AI in automation, which represents productivity, with clients reporting a doubling of production efficiency after automation is introduced in their factories; ➃ Honeywell's electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Kaohsiung will become a benchmark for AI smart factories, using digital twin technology to connect to the cloud and achieve synergy between virtual and physical production lines; ➄ The AI revolution is not limited to Taiwan but extends to North America and Asia, covering existing facilities, planned factories, and under-construction parks; ➅ This year marks the 50th anniversary of Honeywell, transitioning from manufacturing connectors to providing system solutions and developing complex core technology capabilities, aiming to build three AI-driven smart platforms.
September 3
- Strengthening Semiconductor Advantages: Taiwan's Local Government Signs LOI with 12 Foreign Firms➀ Taiwan's local government held the '2024 Taiwan Global Investment and Market Trends Forum,' securing approximately $3.8 billion in investment commitments from 21 companies. ➁ The local government official signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with 12 foreign firms, including Micron, Applied Materials, and NXP Semiconductors, pledging $1.5 billion in investments over the next 3-5 years. ➂ The investments focus on semiconductor supply chain enhancements, covering manufacturing, equipment, and materials, highlighting Taiwan's appeal in the AI wave.
- Chairman Lany of GlobalWafers: Rising Chip Material Tariffs and Overseas Expansion Strategy➀ Chairman Lany of GlobalWafers anticipates an increase in tariffs on chip materials. ➁ To address this, the company is planning to expand its facilities overseas and implement local production. ➂ This strategy is aimed at mitigating the effects of tariff increases and maintaining a stable supply chain.
September 2
- TSMC's Arizona Plant Begins Construction, Confirmed by State Officials➀ TSMC's third factory in Arizona has officially started construction, confirmed by Sandra Watson, President of the Arizona Commerce Authority. ➁ The first phase of the factory is expected to begin production of 4nm chips in the first half of 2025, with the second phase targeting 3nm and 2nm production by 2028. ➂ The total investment for all three phases is estimated at $65 billion, with the state government actively supporting the project and inviting other tech companies to invest in Arizona.
- TSMC's A16 Process Orders: Unproduced Yet Highly Anticipated➀ TSMC's A16 process, which has not yet entered mass production, has already attracted significant attention. ➁ Apple has reserved the initial capacity of TSMC's A16 process, while OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has also joined in reserving the A16 capacity due to its long-term demand for self-developed AI chips. ➂ OpenAI's strategic partnership with Broadcom and Marvell for ASIC chip development is expected to be produced at TSMC's 3nm family and subsequent A16 processes.
August 31
- Specialty Chemical Stocks Surge: CoWoS Integration Boosts Annual Profits➀ Taiwan's specialty chemical sector is expected to benefit from TSMC's expansion, with local suppliers seeing increased demand for materials. ➁ Companies like Nan Pao, Sunlux, and Jie Liu Fa have already reported strong earnings, with more expected to follow. ➂ The integration into TSMC's CoWoS advanced packaging process is set to further boost these companies' profits, with estimates showing significant EPS increases for the next two years.
August 20
- NVIDIA Addresses Chip Delay: Impact on Gross Margin➀ NVIDIA's Blackwell series chips face potential delays, but the company assures production is on track for a 2024 launch. ➁ Demand for existing Hopper chips remains strong, potentially boosting short-term revenue. ➂ Analysts believe any delays in the Blackwell series could actually increase NVIDIA's gross margin due to higher demand for the more profitable Hopper chips.