TSMC on alert and Singapore on the rise
- TSMC stopped shipping chips to two companies suspected of bypassing US export controls on Huawei
- US restrictions prevent American tech from being used in advanced chips for China without a license
- Samsung lost smartphone market share to Apple and Chinese brands, particularly in foldables
- Apple is expected to overtake Samsung next year, driven by AI features in its phones
- Investment in deep tech in Singapore rose 31% last year, boosting its global startup ranking
TSMC, the world’s largest semiconductor maker, has stopped shipping chips to two companies over concerns that they were trying to bypass US export controls on Huawei. These companies ordered chips made with 7-nanometre technology, which TSMC has been using since 2018. The US restricts the use of American technology in chips for China without an export license. TSMC confirmed it has not supplied Huawei since 2020 to comply with these restrictions.
Samsung is losing its lead as the top smartphone seller. It was the only major smartphone maker to see falling sales in the third quarter, losing market share to Apple and Chinese brands, especially in the foldable phone market. Apple is expected to surpass Samsung next year due to new AI features. Samsung has also faced problems in its semiconductor division, which is crucial for its profits.
In Singapore, investment in “deep tech” industries, like chips and robotics, is growing despite overall startup investments dropping. These sectors are seen as important due to the ongoing US-China tech tensions. In 2023, deep tech made up 25% of total investment, up from 17% the year before. This boost helped Singapore rise in global startup rankings, now ranking 7th, ahead of cities like Beijing and Tokyo.
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