The advanced-logic IC market may soon bottom out, if it hasn’t already, suggest second quarter earnings reports by Samsung and TSMC. Both chipmakers alluded to a recovery in the second half of the year, though they refused to provide much detail due to tensions clouding their outlook. Apart from the US-China trade war, both companies – but obviously Samsung in particular – are affected by a new requirement for Japanese chipmaking material suppliers to receive prior approval before exporting to South Korea.
The recovery does not include all types of ICs. Analysts believe the memory market will take longer to recover. NXP executives, too, were cautious yesterday during an investor conference call, although they predicted the second half of the year would be better than the first half.
