Investment Rating - The industry rating is maintained as "Outperform" [7] Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is expected to continue its optimistic growth trajectory in 2025, driven by AI applications and domestic substitution efforts [5] - The storage sector is experiencing a price increase, with DDR4 and LPDDR4X leading the rise, and projections indicate further price growth in Q3 2025 [4][20] - The release of AI glasses by major companies like ByteDance and Xiaomi is anticipated to catalyze growth in the related supply chain [2][13] Summary by Sections AI Glasses - ByteDance is advancing its self-developed AI glasses, focusing on visual interaction and lightweight design, potentially using the Hengxuan main control chip [2][14] - Xiaomi is also expected to enter the AI smart glasses market, leveraging its existing expertise in smart eyewear [2][18] Storage Market Overview - The storage market has seen a significant price increase, particularly in DDR4 products, with an increase of over 50% for the 8G 2666Mbps variant [21][24] - Embedded storage prices have risen by 5-10%, driven by NAND resource price increases [21] - LPDDR products, especially low-capacity ones, have seen substantial price hikes, with LPDDR4 16Gb increasing by 66.7% [21][54] Q3 Outlook - NAND Flash contract prices are expected to rise by 3-8% in Q2 2025 and 5-10% in Q3 2025, while DDR4 prices are projected to increase by 18-23% in Q3 [4][22] - The demand for enterprise storage is expected to remain robust due to AI infrastructure needs and domestic substitution [4][5] Market Performance - The semiconductor sector outperformed major indices in the last week, with a 3.245% increase in the semiconductor industry index [63][67] - The IC design sector showed the highest growth among semiconductor sub-sectors, with a 4.5% increase [69]

Core Viewpoint - The storage industry is experiencing significant price increases for certain products, particularly DRAM, driven by production halts from major manufacturers rather than a surge in demand [2][5]. Price Increases - Recent reports indicate that prices for various DDR4 products have surged, with increases of up to 100% in some cases, and 50% within a month for others [2][4]. - Specific DDR4 products saw price increases of 3.95%, 15%, and 10% respectively in a week ending May 27 [4]. - The price hikes are attributed to production stoppages by major manufacturers like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix, which have led to a supply shortage and subsequent stockpiling by buyers [5][6]. Market Dynamics - The market is reacting to rumors of production halts, with a notable increase in demand for DDR4 and LPDDR4 products as buyers rush to secure inventory before potential shortages [5][6]. - NAND Flash products, particularly MLC NAND Flash, are also experiencing price increases due to similar production cutbacks [6][9]. Overall Market Trends - Despite localized price increases, the overall storage market is expected to grow only by 1% to 2% this year, as terminal demand has not rebounded strongly [9]. - The shift in production focus from older technologies like DDR3 and DDR4 to newer, high-performance products such as DDR5 and HBM is evident, as manufacturers aim to enhance profitability [9][10]. Technological Transition - The industry is moving towards advanced storage technologies, with a focus on HBM and QLC NAND Flash, which are deemed more suitable for AI applications [10][11]. - Companies like Micron and SK Hynix are restructuring their operations to increase HBM production capacity in response to growing market demands [11].

Core Insights - The white paper highlights significant transformations in the global memory market driven by advancements in AI technology, increasing server storage demands, and upgrades in consumer storage products [19] Group 1: Global Memory Market Changes and Technological Developments - High-density 3D NAND Flash storage is continuously improving, with advancements in read/write performance, power consumption, durability, and cost [2][36] - The complexity of etching and deposition processes increases with the number of layers in NAND Flash, leading to challenges that manufacturers are overcoming through various techniques [2][41] - Major manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix are focusing on mass production plans for NAND Flash with over 300 layers, utilizing Wafer-to-Wafer bonding technology [2][41] Group 2: Server NAND and DRAM Application Growth - The expansion of global data center infrastructure and increased investment in AI infrastructure are driving the growth of server storage demand [3][9] - In 2024, the application shares of NAND in servers, mobile devices, and PCs are projected to be 30%, 31%, and 14% respectively, with server NAND application share expected to rise to 30% by 2025 [4][43] - For DRAM applications, the shares in servers, mobile devices, and PCs are expected to be 34%, 32%, and 14% in 2024, with server DRAM application share anticipated to grow to 36% by 2025 [5][47] Group 3: Storage Technology and Application Outlook - QLC NAND is improving in performance and reliability, making it suitable for read-intensive applications, particularly in computing centers [6][51] - The rise of AI PCs is driving the growth of PCIe 4.0/5.0 SSD applications in the consumer market, with an expected penetration rate of 35% by 2025 [7][58] - Manufacturers are actively expanding into overseas markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, where the SSD market holds significant potential [8][71] Group 4: AI Server Storage Demand - There is a surge in capital expenditure for AI infrastructure, significantly increasing the demand for AI servers [9][72] - The global HBM market is projected to reach $16 billion in 2024 and grow to $30 billion by 2025, accounting for 28% of the global DRAM market [11] - The demand for enterprise-grade PCIe 5.0 SSDs is rapidly increasing, with an expected shipment share of 30% by 2025 [12][50] Group 5: Consumer Storage Product Applications and Developments - Global PC shipments are expected to see a slight increase of 3% in 2025, with AI PC penetration reaching 35% [13][58] - The global smartphone shipment volume is projected to reach approximately 1.184 billion units in 2024, with NAND capacity expected to exceed 220GB by 2025 [15][16] - AI glasses are emerging as a significant consumer electronics product, with shipments expected to rise from 2 million units in 2024 to 10 million units in 2025 [17][18]

Summary of Storage Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The storage industry is experiencing a cyclical rebound, with Q2 identified as a good time for investment due to inventory clearance and price recovery, with expectations for demand to reverse upward in Q3 [1][2] - Domestic storage manufacturers are presented with historic opportunities due to increased CAPEX investments from companies like Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance, which are pushing for supply chain localization [1][2][6] Key Drivers - Server demand is a core driver of the storage market, accounting for nearly 50% of the market share, with AI servers significantly increasing DRAM demand, enhancing value by three to four times [1][8][16] - The penetration rate of DDR5 is expected to expand the memory interface chip market, providing growth opportunities for related companies [1][20] Market Dynamics - China holds nearly half of the global storage market, yet domestic manufacturers have less than 10% market share, creating substantial room for growth as overseas companies exit mid-to-low-end production lines [1][11] - The overall storage market is stabilizing, with inventory levels either decreasing or remaining stable since H2 2024, and prices for DRAM and NAND chips showing signs of recovery since March 2025 [14][15] Investment Opportunities - Key companies to watch include: - **Demingli and Jiangbolong** in consumer electronics modules, gradually entering the enterprise storage market [3] - **Zhaoyi Innovation** with growth potential in DRAM, benefiting from partnerships with Hefei Changxin [3][4] - **Jucheng Technology** in the automotive-grade EEPROM market, expected to see significant growth following certifications [3][24] - The report emphasizes the importance of the AI industry as a growth driver for the second half of the year, with potential demand increases from both cloud and edge devices [5][6][19] Challenges and Considerations - Alibaba's CAPEX was below expectations due to supply chain issues, but this does not alter the long-term investment trend in AI by Chinese cloud service providers [7][17] - The smartphone and PC markets are stabilizing without significant growth, while IoT and automotive electronics contribute minimally to storage demand [18][19] Future Outlook - The storage industry is positioned for a recovery phase, with expectations for demand resurgence in H2 2025, driven by both enterprise and consumer segments [10][15] - The introduction of flagship models with increased memory configurations (e.g., 32GB standard) is anticipated to boost demand for SPD and Southbridge CKD chips [21] Conclusion - The storage industry is at a pivotal moment, with cyclical recovery, increased domestic opportunities, and significant technological advancements paving the way for potential growth in the coming years [27]

Group 1: Flash Memory Market - TrendForce predicts a 10% quarter-on-quarter increase in NAND flash prices by Q3 2025, driven by AI demand and enterprise SSD growth [1] - Major NAND flash manufacturers, including Samsung and SK Hynix, have reduced production by 10%-15% in Q2 2023 to address oversupply [1] - The storage price trend shows a rebound in Q2 2023, with DRAM and NAND flash contract prices expected to rise by 3%-8% [1] Group 2: Star Flash Technology - Huawei's WATCH5 series will be the world's first smartwatch to support Star Flash technology, which is expected to disrupt the short-range wireless communication market [2] - Star Flash technology is projected to reach a global market size of over $6 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 117.2% [2] Group 3: Nuclear Power Industry - The U.S. government plans to construct 10 large nuclear power plants by 2030 and quadruple nuclear power capacity by 2050, aiming to reform the nuclear energy sector [3] - Domestic projects related to nuclear fusion are accelerating, with significant achievements in high-temperature plasma research [3] Group 4: AI Computing Power - Huawei has launched the Ascend Super Node technology, which is the largest scale interconnection in the industry, enhancing AI computing capabilities [4] - The demand for computing power in North America is creating growth opportunities for the AI industry and related supply chains [4] Group 5: Humanoid Robots - The first global competition featuring humanoid robots took place in Hangzhou, marking a significant milestone for the robotics industry [5] - The humanoid robot sector is expected to accelerate development, with increased policy support and market participation from various industry players [5] Group 6: 5G Satellite Communication - The International Telecommunication Union has approved a detailed specification for 5G satellite radio interfaces, enhancing the integration of satellite and terrestrial communication systems [6] - The development of 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN) is expected to enable seamless global coverage and low-latency communication [6]

Core Viewpoint - The management of Bawei Storage is optimistic about the company's future development, with executives committing not to sell their shares in the secondary market within the year following the planned share reduction [1] Company Summary - Bawei Storage's executives plan to reduce their holdings, with the total shares to be sold being minimal compared to the company's total share capital, thus having a limited impact [2] - The company has seen significant growth in embedded storage revenue, with a more than doubling increase expected in 2024, indicating a positive trend in demand diversification within the storage industry [2] - Bawei Storage's storage packaging technology is leading domestically, particularly in the AI glasses sector, providing a competitive edge in low power consumption and fast response times [3] - The company is enhancing its advanced packaging capabilities, which will support both its storage product development and meet customer demands for integrated storage solutions [3] Industry Summary - The storage industry is expected to experience healthy growth with the emergence of new products such as AI terminals and intelligent robots, moving away from a reliance on traditional smart terminals [2] - Localized demand from downstream terminal enterprises in China is becoming increasingly clear amid global trade disputes, further supporting the industry's growth [2]

Core Insights - The cloud service providers (CSPs) in North America are significantly increasing their investments in AI, which is expected to drive the demand for enterprise SSDs, leading to a tight supply situation by Q3 2025 and a potential price increase of around 10% [1] - The NAND Flash market is gradually moving towards a supply-demand balance due to conservative production strategies by suppliers, although recent market dynamics have introduced price volatility [1][2] - There is a resurgence in storage demand driven by the release of high-end AI servers like NVIDIA's GB200 and an increase in HDD orders reflecting corporate expansion trends, indicating a positive outlook for both SSD and HDD orders due to capital expenditure growth [2] Summary by Sections - **Market Dynamics**: The enterprise SSD market is expected to experience significant growth due to low inventory levels and increased demand from CSPs investing in AI [1] - **NAND Flash Market**: The NAND Flash market is stabilizing as suppliers adopt conservative production strategies, but external factors have introduced uncertainties in pricing [1][2] - **Storage Demand Trends**: The demand for storage is recovering, supported by high-end AI server shipments and increased HDD orders, suggesting a robust growth trajectory for storage solutions [2]

Core Viewpoint - The company announced a minor share reduction plan by some directors and senior management to alleviate financial pressure related to the subscription of restricted stock, which is not expected to impact the company's governance or operations significantly [1] Group 1: Share Reduction Plan - The company plans to reduce a total of up to 84,125 shares, accounting for no more than 0.0182% of the total share capital [1] - The reduction is aimed at easing the financial burden of subscribing to the 2024 restricted stock incentive plan, which is linked to the company's market value [1] - The management has committed not to reduce their holdings in the secondary market within the current year after the completion of this reduction [1] Group 2: Business Growth and Strategy - The company is one of the few in the industry with advanced storage and packaging capabilities, focusing on innovation in the AI era [2] - Significant growth in revenue and profit is expected in 2024 due to the company's strategic expansion into domestic and international markets [2] - From Q2 2025, the company anticipates a gradual recovery in revenue and gross margin, with projected revenue from AI glasses expected to grow over 500% year-on-year [2] Group 3: Strategic Direction - The company will adhere to the "R&D and Packaging Integration 2.0" strategy, enhancing its core competitiveness in the storage industry through technological innovation and collaboration [3] - The company aims to establish closer partnerships with clients by leveraging its comprehensive solutions in high-performance storage and advanced packaging [3]

Group 1: Global Storage Market Trends - The global storage market is expected to grow rapidly from 2024 to 2025, driven by advancements in technologies such as 3D NAND, HBM, and PCIe 5.0, which enhance server and consumer storage capabilities [4][36]. - AI consumer electronics are opening new application scenarios, necessitating continuous innovation from storage manufacturers to adapt to market changes [4][36]. Group 2: Technological Developments in Storage - High-layer 3D NAND Flash technology is continuously improving storage density, with companies like Samsung and SK Hynix advancing to over 300 layers, and Samsung's 400-layer NAND expected to enter mass production by 2025 [1][26]. - The demand for server storage is surging, with NAND applications projected to account for 30% and DRAM for 34% of the market by 2025 [2][30]. - QLC NAND technology is entering a mature phase, with performance and reliability enhancements, making it suitable for read-intensive applications [2][38]. Group 3: Consumer Storage Product Applications - AI PCs are driving storage upgrades, with global PC shipments expected to reach 261 million units by 2025, and AI PC penetration projected at 35% [3][45]. - The global smartphone market is also seeing increased storage demand, with shipments expected to reach 1.21 billion units by 2025, and AI smartphones penetrating 30% of the market [4][4]. Group 4: AI Consumer Electronics Opportunities - AI glasses are emerging as a new market hotspot, with expected shipments of 10 million units by 2025, driven by companies like Ray-Ban Meta and ByteDance [5][5]. - The integration of AI in various consumer electronics is raising storage performance and capacity requirements, indicating a trend towards deeper collaboration between storage technology and AI [6][6]. Group 5: Server Storage Market Analysis - The capital expenditure of major tech companies for AI infrastructure is significantly increasing, with Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta projected to spend a combined total of over $320 billion in 2025 [60][63]. - The demand for AI servers is expected to grow, with the number of AI servers projected to reach 180,000 units by 2025, reflecting a 29% year-on-year increase [73][73].

Investment Rating - The report upgrades the industry investment rating to "Recommended" [1] Core Insights - The semiconductor industry faces reduced visibility in the second half of 2025 due to tariff uncertainties, while the storage market shows positive trends in Q2 [1][3] - AI hardware demand remains strong, driven by cloud service providers and government sectors, suggesting a focus on leading companies in the AI hardware segment such as NVIDIA and TSMC [1][3] Semiconductor Sector - IC Design: In April 2025, MediaTek reported revenue of NT$48.8 billion, a month-on-month decrease of 12.9% but a year-on-year increase of 16.0%. The company noted uncertainty due to tariffs [3][11] - IC Manufacturing: TSMC achieved record revenue of NT$349.6 billion in April 2025, with a month-on-month increase of 22.2% and a year-on-year increase of 48.1% [3][14] - IC Testing: ASE Technology's revenue in April 2025 was NT$52.2 billion, a month-on-month decrease of 2.9% but a year-on-year increase of 13.9% [3][22] PC/Server Sector - The PC market is affected by tariff uncertainties, with companies like Hon Hai reporting April revenue of NT$641.4 billion, a month-on-month increase of 16.2% and a year-on-year increase of 25.5% [3][25] - Quanta's April revenue was NT$154 billion, a month-on-month decrease of 20.0% but a year-on-year increase of 58.2% [3][25] PCB Sector - The PCB manufacturing sector saw overall revenue increase by 5.6% month-on-month and 18.6% year-on-year in April 2025, driven by demand for AI servers and high-end networking [3][27] - Zhen Ding's revenue reached NT$13.6 billion in April, a year-on-year increase of 22.9% [3][27] Optical Components Sector - The optical components sector is experiencing a traditional off-season, with Largan Precision reporting April revenue of NT$4.4 billion, a month-on-month decrease of 10.6% but a year-on-year increase of 26.5% [3][28] Storage Sector - The storage market is showing positive signs, with companies like Nanya Technology reporting a month-on-month revenue increase of 13.3% in April 2025 [3][4] - DRAM prices are expected to rise, with TrendForce adjusting its Q2 price forecast from -5% to +8% [3][4]