The second half of 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal period in the global semiconductor industry, as the race for technological supremacy intensifies. At the forefront are Samsung Electronics and TSMC, which are set to clash over next-generation 2nm process technologies. Equally critical is the unfolding battle over sixth-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM4), a segment poised to redefine performance benchmarks in AI computing.

Production of Apple’s AirPods at Foxconn’s Telangana factory has encountered supply disruptions due to China’s tightening grip on rare earth element exports, particularly dysprosium—an essential component used in high-performance magnets inside AirPods. The shortage reflects the growing impact of geopolitical tensions on global tech supply chains.

As the US prepares to impose steep tariffs on imported copper, global copper prices have rebounded, raising concerns about rising costs across copper-intensive industries. Among the most vulnerable is the copper-clad laminate (CCL) industry, a foundational pillar of printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing, where higher raw material prices could compress margins and trigger price hikes downstream.