Core Viewpoint - Silicon Carbide (SiC) is gaining attention as the next-generation power semiconductor material due to its superior properties compared to silicon (Si), particularly in high-temperature and high-pressure applications [1][3]. Group 1: Historical Progress and Development - Significant advancements in SiC power devices have been made since the 2000s, overcoming early challenges related to defects in the crystal structure [3][4]. - The defect density in SiC wafers has been reduced by an order of magnitude, thanks to improved simulation technologies and experimental efforts [3][4]. - The price of SiC wafers has dramatically decreased over the past 20 years, with 8-inch wafers now costing around 4,800 RMB, a reduction of nearly an order of magnitude [4]. Group 2: Market Expansion and Key Players - The year 2001 marked a turning point for SiC with Infineon Technologies leading the small-scale production of SiC diodes, although the market was limited at that time [6]. - The introduction of SiC transistors by Cree (now Wolfspeed) and ROHM in 2010 was a significant milestone, but the market size remained minimal [6]. - Tesla's adoption of SiC power devices in its electric vehicles in 2018 catalyzed market expansion, leading to increased awareness and adoption of SiC technology in the automotive sector [6][7]. Group 3: Current Market Trends and Future Outlook - The SiC market is expected to reach approximately 30 billion RMB by 2024, driven by the growing demand for electric vehicles and advancements in railway vehicle applications [7]. - China has emerged as a leader in SiC wafer production, surpassing Japan, the US, and Germany in wafer size, quality, and cost reduction [9]. - Despite China's rapid development in SiC, Japanese companies still lead in advanced device development, maintaining a competitive edge in the power device ecosystem [9][10]. Group 4: Challenges and Technical Issues - A persistent issue for SiC is the high defect density at the SiC and SiO2 interface, which hinders its full potential [15][16]. - The resistance of SiC is currently two to three times higher than ideal values, indicating a need for breakthroughs in research to improve performance and reduce costs [15][16]. - Reliability concerns are becoming increasingly important as SiC power devices gain popularity, necessitating the design of protective circuits to prevent damage during overload conditions [15][16].

Core Viewpoint - The semiconductor market growth is driven by average selling prices (ASP) rather than shipment volumes, indicating that a recovery can only be confirmed when shipment volumes increase [2][3] Group 1: Market Trends - The global semiconductor market is projected to grow by 16% this year, reaching $732 billion, with a worst-case scenario of 15% growth and a best-case scenario of 19% [2] - By 2026, the market is expected to grow by 12%, reaching $813 billion, with a worst-case growth of 6% and a best-case growth of 18% [2] - There is a dichotomy in the market, with AI data centers thriving while non-AI markets remain weak [2][3] Group 2: Capital Expenditure and Pricing - Capital expenditure as a percentage of sales remains high at approximately 15%, compared to a long-term trend of 11% [3] - Average selling prices have stabilized at $1.76 in July after hitting a low of $1.11 in June 2022 [3] - The enthusiasm for compound semiconductors is waning, with significant investments in GaN wafer fabs in China surpassing those in SiC [3] Group 3: Geopolitical Factors - The U.S. government is considering imposing tariffs on semiconductors, potentially exceeding 25%, which adds uncertainty to the global semiconductor industry [5][6] - The Trump administration's policies have created a climate of uncertainty, affecting not only U.S. companies but also allies like South Korea and Japan [5][6] - The U.S. government is leveraging its position to pressure companies like Intel to increase investments while simultaneously restricting imports of semiconductor equipment to China [6][7] Group 4: Industry Sentiment - The semiconductor industry is experiencing a downturn, with a significant drop in the Business Sentiment Index (BSI) for the electronics and telecommunications sector [5] - Experts emphasize the need for calm and accurate judgment in the face of market volatility and government policies [8]

Core Viewpoint - JS Foundry, a semiconductor foundry company in Japan, filed for bankruptcy with total liabilities of approximately 16.1 billion yen, highlighting challenges in the domestic semiconductor industry [1][2]. Group 1: Company Overview - JS Foundry was established in 2022 as Japan's first independent foundry, aiming to strengthen the domestic supply chain for analog and power semiconductors and support R&D in these areas [1]. - The company acquired the Niigata factory from ON Semiconductor Niigata and began semiconductor foundry production [2]. Group 2: Financial Performance - For the fiscal year ending December 2023, JS Foundry reported sales of approximately 3.14 billion yen but incurred a net loss of 1.372 billion yen [2]. - In October 2024, the company initiated business cooperation in the SiC wafer sector after a failed capital collaboration with an overseas company [2].

Core Viewpoint - The company reported a solid performance in Q1 2025, with revenue and net profit showing significant year-on-year growth, driven by both rail transit equipment and emerging equipment sectors [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, the company achieved operating revenue of 4.537 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.81% [1]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders reached 631 million yuan, up 13.42% year-on-year, while the non-recurring net profit was 597 million yuan, reflecting a growth of 29.52% [1]. - The overall gross margin for Q1 2025 was 33.50%, an increase of 3.84 percentage points year-on-year, attributed to a higher proportion of high-margin rail transit electrical equipment [2]. Group 2: Business Segments - The rail transit equipment segment generated revenue of 2.347 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.72%, with rail transit electrical equipment revenue at 1.923 billion yuan, up 18.89% [2]. - The emerging equipment segment reported revenue of 2.171 billion yuan, a growth of 20.88% year-on-year, with significant contributions from basic components and industrial converters [2]. - The semiconductor business, particularly in the new energy vehicle market, saw a revenue increase of 22.63% in Q1 2025 [3]. Group 3: Future Outlook - The company is expected to benefit from the high demand in rail transit maintenance and the replacement of old diesel locomotives, alongside the rapid growth of the emerging equipment sector [3]. - Forecasts indicate that the company will achieve net profits of 4.357 billion yuan, 4.841 billion yuan, and 5.234 billion yuan for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively, with corresponding EPS of 3.18, 3.54, and 3.82 yuan [3].

Core Viewpoint - The global power semiconductor market is projected to reach 7.771 trillion yen by 2035, which is 2.3 times the size in 2024, driven by the long-term growth from electric vehicle (EV) adoption despite short-term inventory issues in 2024 [1][2]. Market Size and Growth Projections - The power semiconductor market is expected to reach 3.5285 trillion yen in 2025, with silicon power semiconductors accounting for 3.147 trillion yen. The market is anticipated to expand starting in 2026 after inventory normalization [1]. - The next-generation power semiconductor market is projected to reach 513.8 billion yen by 2025, with significant growth expected for GaN power semiconductors due to their ability to replace silicon semiconductors [2]. - By 2035, the market for next-generation power semiconductors is expected to reach 3.1981 trillion yen, with SiC power semiconductors projected to reach 2.9034 trillion yen [2]. Specific Semiconductor Types - SiC power semiconductors are expected to see an adoption rate exceeding 50% in electric vehicles by 2035, up from just over 10% in 2024 [2]. - The GaN power semiconductor market is projected to grow to 278.7 billion yen by 2035, with significant applications in AC-DC adapters and server power supplies [3]. - The market for GaN power semiconductors is expected to reach 58 billion yen by 2025, driven by production scale effects and price reductions [3]. Wafer and Component Market Trends - The power semiconductor wafer market is expected to reach 300.9 billion yen by 2025 and 911.8 billion yen by 2035, with SiC wafers projected to surpass silicon wafers in 2024 due to increased production from Chinese companies [5]. - The overall market for power semiconductor components is expected to reach 1.7408 trillion yen in 2023 and 615.2 billion yen by 2025 [5]. Manufacturing Equipment Market - The power semiconductor manufacturing equipment market is projected to reach 1.3234 trillion yen by 2035, with a forecasted size of 739.3 billion yen in 2025. A decline in automotive-related capital investment is expected to impact the market in 2025 [7].