➀ Broadcom and TSMC are considering a deal with Intel to split the company, with Broadcom interested in Intel's chip design business and TSMC focusing on Intel's factories.

➁ Broadcom has been closely monitoring Intel's chip design and marketing business and has held informal discussions with advisors, but this could only happen if a partner is found for Intel's manufacturing business.

➂ The potential transactions, which were unimaginable before Intel's recent troubles, could result in the disintegration of Intel.

➀ In the backdrop of the "chip shortage" crisis from 2020-2022, the MCU market experienced rapid expansion, leading to profits for major manufacturers.

➁ However, the market has since faced challenges such as "cost reduction, inventory management, and localization".

➂ Major MCU manufacturers like Microchip, STMicroelectronics, and NXP have reported declining revenues and profits, reflecting a tough market environment.

➃ These companies are adjusting strategies, focusing on technology innovation, and seeking new growth points to overcome the current difficulties.

➀ SMIC reported $22.073 billion in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024, a 1.7% increase from the previous quarter;

➁ The company's gross profit was $4.99 billion, with a gross margin of 22.6%;

➂ For the full year 2024, SMIC's revenue was $80.299 billion, a 27% increase year-over-year;

➃ The company's operating profit was $4.927 billion, down 45.4% the previous year;

➄ Capital expenditures for 2024 were $7.33 billion;

➅ The company's 8-inch standard logic monthly capacity the end of 2024 was 948,000 wafers;

➆ The average capacity utilization rate for the year was 85.6%;

➇ The company's first-quarter guidance for 2025 is a revenue increase of 6% to 8% from the previous quarter;

➈ The expected gross margin for the first quarter of 2025 is 19% to 21%;

➉ SMIC expects its revenue growth in 2025 to be higher than the average of comparable industries, with capital expenditures remaining roughly the same as in 2024.

➀ The approved IC design companies and semiconductor packaging and testing companies are mainly from Europe, the United States, and Taiwan, indicating a clear intention to decouple technology. It is necessary to build a complete and independent domestic electronic information industry chain.

➁ The requirement for sensitive chip outsourcing and the use of designated packaging and testing companies show that packaging and testing will be the next target of US suppression. It is necessary to enhance wafer manufacturing and packaging and testing capabilities, ensuring close cooperation among design, manufacturing, and packaging and testing companies.

➂ The safety of nodes above 16/14nm, such as 20nm and 28nm, will not be a concern as long as a complete and independent industry chain is formed.

➃ It is necessary to ensure the sufficient supply of 16/14nm process technology as soon as possible to avoid affecting the upgrade of many products.

➄ Short-term focus on technology optimization and capacity expansion of mature processes such as 28nm, and medium to long-term breakthroughs in special processes such as automotive chips and the third generation of semiconductor. In addition, accelerate the research and development of new materials and new architectures, such as SiC/GaN, computing-in-memory chips, and silicon photonics chips.

➀ NXP announced plans to lay off approximately 1,800 employees globally due to increased tariffs in the US and market pressures.

➁ The decision is not directly related to concerns about potential trade wars but is related to broader market conditions.

➂ NXP expects its workforce to 'slightly decrease', with the number of employees reduced no more than 5% globally.

➃ NXP's President and CEO Kurt Sievers commented on the company's performance in 2024, noting a 5% decline in revenue and a focus on managing growth strategies.

➄ NXP obtained a €1 billion loan from the European Investment Bank to accelerate semiconductor innovation.

➀ The semiconductor industry in China faces severe internal competition and low-profit margins despite market share growth.

➁ Restrictions on advanced technology and equipment from the US have led mainland China to focus more on mature processes (28nm and above).

➂ Despite these challenges, China's semiconductor exports are growing, with storage devices and processors being key export categories.

➀ The US investment research firm Zacks predicts that if the Sino-US tech war continues, leading semiconductor companies such as NVIDIA, Micron, Intel, and Qualcomm may be drawn into the trade war, facing regulatory and market challenges that could threaten their growth prospects.

➁ The US has been implementing export control policies over the past few years, restricting China's access to advanced semiconductor technologies crucial for AI, 5G, and supercomputers.

➂ In response to the US measures, China has imposed export restrictions on rare earth metals, retaliating against the US.

➀ The U.S. CHIPS Act has been in the works for over four years, costing $53 billion, aiming to revitalize the U.S. economy and compete with China.

➁ The U.S. Commerce Secretary recently criticized the Act, suggesting that trying to stop China is foolish and that the only way to win is by innovating and staying ahead.

➂ The Act has led to significant investments, but challenges like cultural differences and financial issues have hindered progress.

➀ Samsung recalled overseas general managers from 9 regions including China, North America, and Southeast Asia to discuss emergency business strategies in response to domestic and international uncertainties;

➁ The meeting focused on currency exchange rates, departmental sales strategies, and response plans;

➂ The semiconductor business faced challenges with the appreciation of the Korean won against the US dollar, affecting component prices and overall sales.

➀ The market sentiment towards China's semiconductor industry is pessimistic due to capital withdrawal and layoffs.

➁ Professor suggests that the good news is that the U.S. is blocking China's advanced technology, not mature technology, which presents an opportunity.

➂ The bad news is that China's advanced semiconductor technology is not promising in the short term, with numerous issues and a lack of original innovation.

➀ Taiwan's semiconductor industry is expected to grow by 16%, with TSMC's growth at 25%, driven by Intel orders, advanced process capacity, and AI orders.

➁ Analysts suggest that the U.S. restrictions on China's mature process may not be as effective as expected, and Taiwan's mature process companies should consider integration for economies of scale.

➂ TSMC's revenue growth rate is estimated to reach 25% in 2025, but the biggest variable is U.S. policy.

➀ Micron, a major US memory company, is set to release its financial report, as concerns about oversupply in the memory market, especially traditional products, are increasing.

➁ Despite a 'profit surprise' with $7.75 billion in sales between June and August, Micron expects sales to continue growing this quarter, driven by high-value products like HBM.

➂ The semiconductor industry is facing uncertainty due to weak demand for general-purpose storage beyond AI and the aggressive expansion of production by Chinese latercomers.

➀ Vietnam's Prime Minister and NVIDIA CEO signed a cooperation agreement to establish an AI R&D center and data center in Vietnam;

➁ The Prime Minister praised NVIDIA's contribution to Vietnam's development through AI technology;

➂ NVIDIA's CEO expressed high praise for Vietnam's potential in AI and technology development;

➃ Vietnam plans to invest in infrastructure and human resources to integrate into the global semiconductor supply chain;

➄ Vietnam's semiconductor industry is attracting global attention, and the government has announced a strategic development plan to deepen integration into the global supply chain;

➅ Vietnam's policy support for the semiconductor industry is driving industry upgrades and positioning the country as a key player in the global supply chain.

➀ A star unicorn company, Yunyinggu Technology, is planning to sell its controlling interest to Huizhong Technology through an equity and cash deal.

➁ Yunyinggu, founded in 2015, specializes in OLED display driver chips and has raised 12 rounds of financing, including investments from Xiaomi, Huawei, and Jingdong.

➂ Huizhong Technology, founded in 2002, has been focusing on fingerprint and touch chips and is looking to expand into the display chip market with the acquisition.

➀ ASML's overlay tool (YieldStar) and OPC mask making software (Tachyon suite) sales impacted by new export controls;

➁ Updated export control regulations include metrology and software in restricted technologies list;

➂ Additional fab locations in China added to US restrictions list;

➃ Commerce issued three new documents clarifying new export control rules;

➄ China's semiconductor phone book copied-pasted in the new export control list;

➅ ERC added 106 entities to the Entity List.

➀ The U.S. government's recent suspension of 7nm and below process AI chip manufacturing by TSMC and Samsung has raised concerns about the implications and future impacts;

➁ The details of the sanctions, including the conditions for restriction and the potential for future policies, are discussed;

➂ The article analyzes the broader implications of the sanctions on the AI and GPU industries, as well as the potential impact on cloud computing and autonomous driving chips;

➃ The necessity for China to accelerate its 7nm development and the importance of a coordinated national effort are highlighted;

➄ The challenges and opportunities for China's semiconductor industry in the face of the global shift towards advanced technologies are discussed.