On the evening of July 10, several A-share listed companies unveiled their 2026 semi-annual performance forecasts, showcasing remarkable performance from leading firms in industries such as storage, upstream resources for lithium batteries, and non-ferrous metals. Some companies have reported net profit growth surpassing tenfold, significantly enhancing the overall prosperity of these sectors. The storage chip industry, buoyed by the escalating demand for artificial intelligence, has experienced a sustained surge in demand for enterprise-level storage products in areas like internet data centers. This has led to steady price increases and widespread high growth among industry participants. Since the second half of 2025, the lithium battery industry has seen a continuous improvement in its fundamentals, with corporate performance rebounding and significant benefits accruing to the upstream mining and lithium salt sectors. Furthermore, demand from the new energy and artificial intelligence industries has propelled the prices of non-ferrous metals such as copper, tungsten, aluminum, and rare earths, thereby boosting the performance of related listed companies. Notably, the price of tungsten concentrate has surged by over 350% year-on-year, making it a standout performer among non-ferrous metals and driving substantial growth in the performance of related firms.

On July 11, Kwak Noh-Jung, who serves as the CEO of SK Hynix, expressed that given the present circumstances, the ongoing shortage of storage chips in the computer, automotive, and consumer electronics industries is quite likely to continue well beyond 2030. In the global tech landscape, storage chips are fundamental components for various devices. Computers rely on them for data storage and quick access, automotive systems use them for advanced driver - assistance features and infotainment, and consumer electronics like smartphones and tablets depend on them to function smoothly. So, this prolonged shortage could have far - reaching impacts on these sectors, potentially disrupting production schedules and driving up costs.

Since its separation from Intel, Altera, a programmable chip manufacturer, has been rejuvenated and is now firmly back on the path of growth under the stewardship of CEO Raghib Hussain. Hussain disclosed that, driven by the soaring demand for artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, Altera is currently witnessing an impressive annual growth rate of around 20%. Notably, its operating income has doubled, and the company is actively laying the groundwork for a future public listing.

The South Korean government plans to establish a semiconductor industry cluster in the southwest, selecting the site of the Gwangju military airport for the project. This airport serves as an air force operations base shared by South Korea and the United States, with portions of the land allocated for U.S. use under the 1966 Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Due to the involvement of U.S. military facilities and interests, South Korea needs to negotiate the relocation with the United States. Currently, although there are no permanently stationed U.S. combat troops, the base can be directly used by the U.S. military during wartime or emergencies, and it houses logistical support facilities. South Korea and the United States have initiated consultations, but the U.S. side emphasizes its significant military interests in the Gwangju base and the need to maintain a joint readiness posture. Experts predict that the process of redesignating and evaluating the operations base will take several months, and it will be difficult to accelerate the progress solely based on South Korea's determination.

On July 11th, news emerged that on the morning of July 9th, the Xi'an Hi-Tech Zone entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Korea's BOBOO HITECH company. This agreement pertains to the 'BOBOO Semiconductor Key Component Maintenance and Manufacturing Base' project. The project boasts a total investment of 150 million yuan and will be implemented in two distinct phases. In the initial phase, an investment of 50 million yuan is earmarked for renting a 2,000-square-meter standard factory building. This facility will be dedicated to the maintenance and localized production of essential components, such as electrostatic chucks and heating plates, which are crucial for semiconductor manufacturing. Subsequently, the second phase will see an additional investment of 100 million yuan aimed at expanding production capacity.

On July 11, Bloomberg reported that on Friday, South Korean memory chip behemoth SK Hynix accomplished the largest initial public offering (IPO) by a foreign company in the history of the U.S. stock market. Its share price skyrocketed by 13% on the very first day, pushing its total market capitalization to $1.22 trillion. The $26.5 billion raised through this IPO eclipsed Alibaba’s $21.8 billion fundraising in 2014, securing its place as the second-largest stock issuance in U.S. history.

The fundamental reasoning behind these market bets is that AI technology is upending the traditional cycle of the memory chip industry, spurring an explosive demand for high-end chips like High Bandwidth Memory (HBM). As the world’s foremost HBM supplier, SK Hynix witnessed a staggering 398% year-on-year surge in net profit during the first quarter of 2026, achieving an unprecedented operating profit margin of 72%.

The demand for HBM in AI servers is escalating at an annual rate of 300%, with the DRAM configuration per AI server being 8 to 10 times greater than that of traditional servers. By 2026, data centers are projected to account for 70% of the global memory capacity consumption.

Samsung Electronics, in partnership with Samsung Display, is working together on the development of a cutting-edge glass interposer. Trial versions of this product are anticipated to hit the market as soon as this year, with the goal of securing orders from major international tech companies. This strategic initiative is designed to substitute conventional silicon-based interposers with glass alternatives, thereby substantially cutting down production expenses. It will also bolster Samsung's standing in the wafer foundry sector and establish a comprehensive, state-of-the-art packaging ecosystem that can go head-to-head with TSMC's CoWoS technology.

【IC Weekly News This Week】Shenzhen Tengrui Microelectronics has been filed for bankruptcy review, with IGBT and SiC businesses dragging down cash flow; Onsemi sells two chip factories in the Philippines and the United States to optimize cost structure; Microsoft announces layoffs of 4,800 employees, involving the Xbox department; Intel raises prices for its entire CPU lineup, with the highest increase exceeding $1,300.

In 2026, propelled by surging demand, the domestic lithium hexafluorophosphate market rebounded from losses, with prices at one point soaring above RMB 160,000 per ton. Although prices experienced a downturn after peaking in the first half of the year, the profitability of industry players witnessed a marked improvement. Companies like Tinci Materials and Do-Fluoride Chemicals have reported promising performance forecasts. The market currently maintains an optimistic outlook on the future supply-demand balance for lithium hexafluorophosphate, expecting continued robust demand in the latter half of the year and a potential uptick in prices.

SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung stated that 2027 will be the most challenging year in the memory shortage cycle, with customer demand expected to still exceed supply capacity after 2030. The U.S. is on the candidate list for its future wafer fab locations, but no decision has been made yet. SK Hynix will prioritize locations that can provide sufficient land, power, water, and skilled workers at competitive manufacturing costs, with the U.S., Japan, and Southeast Asia all under consideration.

According to reports, SK Hynix's CEO, Kwak Noh-Jung, has indicated that, from a supply perspective, 2027 is projected to be the peak year of the memory shortage cycle. He anticipates that customer demand will continue to outstrip supply capacity even beyond 2030. Kwak Noh-Jung also revealed that the United States is currently one of the potential locations being considered for SK Hynix's future wafer factory, though a final decision has not yet been reached. When selecting a site, SK Hynix will give priority to regions that can offer ample land, reliable electricity and water supplies, a skilled workforce, and competitive unit manufacturing costs. The United States, Japan, and Southeast Asia are all under active consideration as potential locations for the new facility.

On July 11, U.S. President Trump took to social media to announce that Micron Technology is expediting its investment initiatives within the United States. The company has proposed a staggering $250 billion investment to manufacture memory chips domestically, a strategic move aimed at revitalizing the manufacturing sector and bolstering the security of the supply chain. This significant investment is anticipated to generate tens of thousands of high-caliber jobs across the nation.

Trump also shared a statement from Micron's CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, who expressed gratitude for Trump's leadership and policies. Mehrotra highlighted that, under Trump's guidance, Micron is not only ahead of its original schedule but is also elevating its investment in manufacturing and R&D in the U.S. from $200 billion to $250 billion. This substantial increase is projected to create 100,000 jobs within the United States. This development serves as yet another testament to the 'Trump Effect,' which has been instrumental in spurring private sector investment and fostering growth in both the manufacturing and employment sectors across the U.S.

On Friday, the US government relaxed its export controls, permitting the UAE to import Nvidia's cutting-edge AI chips, military hardware, commercial satellites, and spacecraft without the need for a license. This decision strengthens the bond between the two nations, highlights the UAE's pivotal position in Washington's approach to Iran, and opens up revenue avenues for US technology companies. According to the official announcement, the UAE government and certain approved companies, including local tech leaders G42 and Core42, as well as US giants like Amazon, Apple, xAI, and their affiliates, are now eligible to obtain advanced computing products without a license. Moreover, firms such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Oracle are also included in the list of entities exempt from licensing requirements. The US Department of Commerce has also indicated its intention to carry out a 'supportive review' of license applications for the export of chips and servers to the UAE's MGX company.

The global shortage of memory chips continues to impact the technology industry, with personal computer shipments declining by 4.9% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, marking the first drop in two years. Market research firm IDC pointed out that the memory chip supply crisis has not yet affected the revenues of PC manufacturers, but the risks are rising.

Samsung is recalibrating its state-of-the-art foundry strategy, with the intention of prioritizing long-term growth at the 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process node, rather than hastily progressing to the 1.4nm node. The roadmap for its Exynos series processors reveals that the inaugural 1.4nm Exynos chip will experience three successive generations of product refinement. Samsung has introduced several generations of 2nm processes, encompassing SF2P tailored for high-performance computing and SF2X optimized for AI computational capabilities. The inaugural Exynos 2600, leveraging the 2nm process, has commenced mass production. Meanwhile, the Exynos 2700 is set to employ the more sophisticated SF2P process, with mass production anticipated in the latter part of 2026. Furthermore, Samsung is delving into Backside Power Delivery Network (BSPDN) technology to elevate power efficiency, performance, and area optimization. Samsung's 2nm process yield has exceeded 60%, and the company aims to cement its foothold in the advanced process market through relentless innovation and a strategy that caters to a wide array of customers.

On July 10, 2026, a joint notice was issued by China's Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs, declaring the immediate implementation of a temporary ban on helium exports. This decision is intended to give priority to meeting domestic helium demand in vital sectors, including semiconductors, healthcare, and national defense. Helium, an essential raw material in semiconductor manufacturing, has already seen its tight supply significantly affect the global chip industry. While China's proportion in the global helium market is relatively small, this ban could potentially heighten strains within the global semiconductor supply chain, particularly at a time when the global AI boom is fueling a surge in chip demand.

On July 10, 2026, the U.S. government eased its export restrictions towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE), allowing for the import of cutting-edge NVIDIA AI chips, military equipment, commercial satellites, and spacecraft without the need for a license. This strategic decision not only strengthens the alliance between the two nations but also highlights the UAE's pivotal position in Washington's approach to Iran, while simultaneously opening up new revenue streams for American tech firms.

As per the announcement, the UAE government, along with approved entities such as local tech behemoths G42 and Core42, as well as U.S. corporations like Amazon, Apple, xAI, and their respective subsidiaries, are now eligible to procure advanced computing products without a license. Moreover, tech giants including Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Oracle have also been included in this visa-free import list.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Commerce has indicated its intention to carry out a "supportive review" of license applications concerning the export of chips and servers to the UAE's MGX company, signaling a continued commitment to facilitating trade and cooperation between the two countries.

Munich-based university spin-off startup QuantumDiamonds has recently secured €91 million in funding to expand the production of its diamond-based microscopic inspection technology. This includes €15 million in equity financing led by the climate technology fund World Fund and €76 million in state aid approved by the EU. QuantumDiamonds has become the first startup to receive manufacturing funding support under the European Chips Act, breaking the previous monopoly on subsidies by industry giants. Its technology utilizes atomic-level defects in lab-grown diamonds to sense magnetic field changes with extremely high precision, enabling real-time 'observation' of current flow inside chips and precise defect localization. This technology addresses the issue of traditional inspection tools' difficulty in penetrating the top structures of chips, improving chip yield and saving significant costs for enterprises. QuantumDiamonds has already engaged in collaborations or technical testing with nine out of the top ten global chip manufacturers and plans to build a factory in Munich to scale up production.

Against the thriving backdrop of the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom and a soaring demand for hardware from tech behemoths, the semiconductor sector has marked a historic milestone. On Friday, South Korean semiconductor manufacturing titan SK Hynix made its official debut on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in the United States. The initial public offering (IPO) set the price of its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) at $149 per share, successfully raising approximately $2.65 billion. As per authoritative media sources, this fundraising feat has set a new benchmark as the highest amount ever raised by a foreign company in a US listing.

SK Hynix's Chief Executive Officer, Kwak Noh-Jung, has issued a stark warning that the global memory sector is poised to encounter its most severe supply shortage on record by 2027. Despite the company's proactive measures to ramp up production, projections indicate that the demand for memory will persistently surpass production capabilities throughout the upcoming decade. Moreover, when viewed from a supply standpoint, 2027 is anticipated to mark the pinnacle of challenges in the industry's timeline, signaling an unprecedented crisis.