TrendForce forecasts the automotive SiC power component market to grow from $1.07bn in 2022 to $3.94bn by 2026, driven by major automakers adopting the technology for EV power systems. This represents a significant long-term demand trend for SiC components. Neutral: This is a long-term forecast without immediate supply/demand imbalance data to trigger a near-term price signal.
Infineon has laid the foundation for a third wafer fab module in Kulim, Malaysia, representing an investment exceeding RM8bn. The expansion is targeted at increasing manufacturing capacity for power semiconductors, specifically silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) technologies. Bearish: This significant capacity addition, expected to be operational by Q3 2024, will increase future supply for key wide-bandgap components, potentially easing long-term pricing pressure.
AGIC Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in Swiss UV lithography equipment firm Eulitha AG. Eulitha, a spin-off from the Paul Scherrer Institute, specializes in photolithography technology for micro-optics and security features. Neutral: This is a long-term R&D investment with no immediate, direct impact on semiconductor supply, pricing, or trader decisions.
Siemens plc has formed a strategic innovation partnership with the UK's CSA Catapult to accelerate the development of disruptive power electronics technology. The collaboration aims to build advanced skills and capabilities in the UK, focusing on next-generation power semiconductor applications. Neutral: This is a long-term R&D initiative with no immediate impact on component supply, pricing, or trader decisions.
Thin-film metrology equipment manufacturer k-Space Associates celebrated its 30th anniversary. The company produces instrumentation used in semiconductor, solar, and optoelectronic device manufacturing. Neutral: This is a corporate milestone with no direct impact on component supply, demand, or pricing.
Infineon and Delta Electronics have deepened their collaboration on developing wide-bandgap (SiC/GaN) power solutions for server and gaming PC applications. This move targets the growing demand for higher efficiency and performance driven by digitalization and decarbonization trends. Neutral: This partnership announcement is a long-term technology alignment with no immediate, quantifiable impact on component supply, pricing, or inventory levels.
Automotive supplier Marelli unveiled a new platform of 800V silicon carbide (SiC) inverters at the Dritev conference, highlighting improvements in size, weight, and efficiency for electric vehicles. This is a product announcement showcasing technology adoption in the automotive sector. Neutral: This is a standard product launch with no immediate, specific impact on semiconductor supply, demand, or pricing for traders.
POET Technologies has begun sampling its 200G FR4 Transmit and Receive optical engines for QSFP56 transceivers, targeting cloud data centers and 5G connectivity. The engines are based on the company's proprietary Optical Interposer packaging platform. This is a technology milestone with no immediate, direct impact on component supply, demand, or pricing.
GaN Systems and PowerSphyr are co-developing wireless charging solutions at 30W, 100W, and 500W power levels for industrial and automotive markets. This collaboration aims to leverage GaN's efficiency to create compact, high-performance wireless power systems. Neutral: This is a long-term design win announcement with no immediate impact on GaN semiconductor supply, pricing, or trader inventory decisions.
Vector Photonics has appointed a consultant programme manager to oversee the New Product Introduction (NPI) program for its PCSEL technology targeting data center optics. This move aims to accelerate the commercialization of its novel all-semiconductor laser technology. Neutral: This is a long-term R&D milestone with no immediate impact on component supply, pricing, or trader decisions.
II-VI Inc has completed its acquisition of laser technology provider Coherent Inc. This major M&A consolidates two key players in the engineered materials and laser supply chain, potentially altering competitive dynamics and supply relationships for critical optoelectronic components. Watch: The deal's long-term impact on pricing and supply stability for lasers and related components remains uncertain and requires monitoring.
The US Patent Trial and Appeal Board denied STMicroelectronics' petition to invalidate Purdue University's US patent 7,498,633 related to silicon carbide (SiC). This maintains the validity of a foundational SiC patent, which could influence the licensing landscape for SiC technology. Neutral: This is a legal milestone with no immediate, direct impact on SiC component supply, pricing, or production capacity.
Navitas Semiconductor announced its GaNFast power ICs are being used in Xiaomi's new 100W laptop charger included with Redmi laptops. This represents a high-profile design win for GaN technology in the mainstream consumer electronics market. Neutral: While a positive signal for GaN adoption, this single product launch does not indicate a near-term supply/demand imbalance or price impact for GaN components.
Intel Labs demonstrated an eight-wavelength DFB laser array fully integrated on silicon, achieving output power uniformity of ±0.25dB and wavelength spacing uniformity of ±6.5%. This represents a research milestone in silicon photonics, a technology aimed at improving data center and AI chip interconnect efficiency. Neutral: This is a long-term R&D development with no immediate impact on component supply, demand, or pricing.
Umicore Electro-Optic Materials has developed ultra-low resistivity (<1mΩ.cm) 6-inch and 8-inch n-type germanium wafers for VCSEL applications. This is an R&D milestone aimed at improving performance in advanced sensing and communication devices. Neutral: This is a long-term technology development with no immediate impact on trading volumes or prices for existing germanium or VCSEL supply.
II-VI Inc has obtained antitrust clearance from China's SAMR for its acquisition of Coherent Inc. This approval removes a key regulatory hurdle for the merger of two major players in the laser and engineered materials sector. Watch: The deal consolidation could influence long-term supply dynamics and pricing power in the laser component market.
Murata-owned pSemi Corp has announced volume production readiness for its first millimeter-wave beamformer and up-down converter ICs targeting 5G base stations and CPE. This represents a technology milestone for the fabless RFIC company in the active antenna system market. Neutral: This product launch expands the supplier ecosystem but does not indicate an immediate supply/demand shift or price impact for existing RF components.
Integra Technologies has begun production shipments of its first 100V RF GaN products to US and European customers. The products target mission-critical defense and communications applications like radar and electronic warfare. Neutral: This is a standard product launch into a specialized, low-volume market and is unlikely to cause immediate supply-demand shifts or price impacts for widely traded components.
MACOM announced the expansion of its PURE CARBIDE GaN-on-SiC power amplifier portfolio with the new 7.0 kW MAPC-A1605 model at IMS 2022. The product targets high-power aerospace and defense applications like radar and electronic warfare systems. This is a standard product launch with no immediate, direct impact on supply, demand, or pricing for the broader semiconductor trading market.
Scintil Photonics, a fabless developer of silicon photonic ICs, secured €13.5M in a second funding round led by Robert Bosch Venture Capital, bringing total funding to €17.5M. The capital will be used to accelerate product development and commercialization of its optical I/O and high-speed transceiver technology. Neutral: This is a long-term R&D milestone with no immediate impact on component supply, pricing, or trader inventory decisions.
Whose chips are really inside the hottest new products? We open them up and show you, one part at a time.
| Analog | $0.68 | −5.9% |
|---|---|---|
| Connector | $0.75 | +0.2% |
| CPU | $386.74 | −21.3% |
| DDR4 | $88.40 | −0.2% |
| DDR52026-W13 | $14.89 | −11.2% |
| GPU | $478.20 | +8.2% |
| MCU | $0.68 | −61.7%Unusual |
| MLCC | $0.01 | +54.0%Unusual |
| MOSFET | $0.12 | −82.8%Unusual |
| PMIC2026-W13 | $0.44 | −12.5% |
| SSD/HDD | $288.43 | n/a |