Construction material maker Buima saw its gross margin reach 14.56% in 2024, boosted by solid shipments of battery module products and a marked increase in exports of metal construction materials, yet heightened competition in the wall panel market in China led to an overall loss for the year. Going forward, the company hopes to see more positive operations from cost reduction strategies and green products.

A particularly strong first quarter has raised concerns about the probable negative impact on the IC design sector due to demand reversal caused by inventory clearance in the second quarter of 2025. In this regard, certain IC design firms have stated that different applications and chip types may produce differing results and that they will closely monitor the order status of their clients.

Recent media reports suggest that Samsung Electronics’ ambitious initiative to develop the 1.4-nanometer (SF1.4) process is facing significant challenges. This development could once again place Samsung Foundry in a difficult position.

Following the Lunar New Year holidays, the mobile panel market has officially entered its traditional off-season. While China’s subsidy policies have sustained demand for end-user devices, elevated channel inventory has prevented a noticeable surge in first-quarter demand for mobile panels. Consequently, panel prices have remained stable throughout March.