TrendForce stated that the two major wafer foundries, TSMC and Samsung Electronics, had increased prices for the most-traded advanced 5/4nm processes used for AI chips. At TSMC, capacity at the 5/4nm, 3nm, and 2nm periods will remain fully utilized, and toll processing prices for these processes have been increased across the board; meanwhile, order volumes for Samsung Foundry's 5/4nm processes also increased significantly, prompting it to issue price hike notices to clients in Q4 2025.

After a strong start, the price of gold slipped twice to around $5,060 during this trading week. Now, it appears that gold prices might manage to stay just above $5,100 heading into the weekend, continuing the persistent sideways movement of the past five weeks.

Apple (AAPL.O) announced it will expand its factory operations in Houston, US, marking the first time future production of the Mac mini will be relocated to the US. The company will also scale up advanced artificial intelligence server production at the facility and provide hands-on training at its new advanced manufacturing center later this year. Apple's operations in Houston will create thousands of jobs. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that Apple is firmly committed to the future of US manufacturing and is proud to significantly expand its footprint in Houston through the Mac mini production program starting later this year. Additionally, by 2026, Apple is expected to purchase over 100 million advanced chips from TSMC’s Arizona facility, representing a significant increase compared to 2025.

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: The Most-Traded SHFE Tin Contract Hovered at Highs During the Night Session, Some Downstream Enterprises Have Not Yet Resumed Operations]

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: During the 2026 Chinese New Year Holiday, SHFE Tin Market Was Closed While LME Tin Prices Fluctuated at Highs]

According to the Financial Times, former President Trump is expected to exempt companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from impending tariffs on chips, as these companies are racing to build data centers that power the AI boom. Informed sources reveal that the US Department of Commerce plans to provide tariff exemptions for US hyperscale data center operators, which will be linked to TSMC's investment commitments. This exemption plan highlights President Trump's determination to impose tariffs on chips and incentivize domestic chip manufacturing in the US, while also offering some relief to companies heavily reliant on imported semiconductors that drive the rapid development of American artificial intelligence. A government official familiar with the plans cautiously stated that these plans are still subject to change and have not yet been signed by the President.

[SMM Tin Morning Brief: The Most-Traded SHFE Tin Contract Maintained a Fluctuating Upward Trend During the Night Session, with Market Transactions Dominated by Scattered Orders for Immediate Needs]

Integrated Circuit (Chip): 1. TSMC's advanced 3-nanometer process is facing rare production bottlenecks, with its capacity fully booked until 2027. 2. Moore Threads: Revenue for 2025 is projected to range from 1.45 billion yuan to 1.52 billion yuan. 3. Japanese automakers collaborate with chip suppliers to establish a database to prevent supply disruptions and geopolitical impacts. 4. The U.S. states its goal is to relocate 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain capacity to the United States; Taiwan Affairs Office responds.

TSMC's Advanced Packaging Plant in Chiayi May Postpone Equipment Installation TSMC's AP7 advanced packaging plant in Chiayi was originally scheduled to install equipment in Q3, but the supply chain has recently received notifications of postponement to Q4. Two safety incidents occurred at the plant site recently, leading to a work stoppage. The first phase of the plant will establish a wafer-level multi-chip module (WMCM) packaging capacity. It is speculated by the outside world that this packaging technology will be first applied to Apple's self-developed chips.

TSMC's Construction Plans for New Plants in Japan and Germany May Be Adjusted Wei Zhejia, Chairman of TSMC (TSM.N), recently stated that the construction of TSMC's Kumamoto Plant 2 in Japan has indeed been delayed, primarily due to "congestion issues". According to supply chain sources, due to capital and manpower constraints, as well as an assessment of local customer orders, the capacity utilisation rate of TSMC's Kumamoto Plant 1 in Japan has not yet met the target. It is also anticipated that the construction and subsequent equipment installation plans for the German plant will be adjusted. Overall, the current automotive market conditions in Japan and Europe are poor, falling below TSMC's previous expectations.