Advanced Packaging Value Chain, TSMC Record Revenue, AI Diffusion Revoked, PC & Smartphone Tariff Impacts
Chips & Wafers Weekly Update
Chips & Wafers Advanced Packaging Value Chain
We are firm believers that the only way to keep up with Moore’s Law is through Advanced Packaging. There is no AI without CoWoS, no smartphone SoC’s without inFO, no Silicon Photonics without COUPE etc.
While the industry has focused on the front end for years, we’ve built an Advanced Packaging Value Chain infographic to help the broader ecosystem better understand the key players along the supply chain.
The list is not exhaustive and there are many more players contributing to the AP revolution, but it’s a start.
See a company that’s missing? Lets us know! Reach out to us here on Substack, DM on X, or email us at sales@chipsandwafersdata.com
TSMC Record Revenue
Earlier today, TSM 0.00%↑ reported its April revenue (approximate figures in USD terms):
+51% YoY
+27% MoM
This is a new monthly record for the company. During their last earnings call three weeks ago they mentioned they have not been seeing any tariff-related change in customer behavior, suggesting that the ongoing surge is demand-driven.
May and Q2 results will be especially interesting given the recent appreciation of the TWD. Not great news for TSMC’s margins.
AI Diffusion Revoked
Earlier this week, it was reported that the Trump administration is likely to roll back the AI Diffusion rules from the Biden era.
Political critics will argue that this is just another case of “doing the opposite of anything Biden did” situation but we believe that this is a step in the direction.
Relaxed chip exports ensure Chinese reliance and dependance on NVDA 0.00%↑ GPU’s which will continue to provide billions of dollars to a US company, and will entice US AI players to keep themselves ahead of the curve with the knowledge that their competitors (almost) have access to the same type of compute they do.
Additionally, this once again proves that Jensen continues to have massive influence in the White House and clearly has the President’s ear. What a masterful CEO. Respect.
PC & Smartphone Tariff Impacts
At Chips & Wafers, we always try to leverage our data to get real-time insight to market movements before they become apparent.
This has been the case for us for a number of months already with regards to US smartphone & PC imports.
Most people only started paying attention to this idea once the tariff discussion began and it was reported that AAPL 0.00%↑ started loading plane-full’s of IPhone’s in India to get in ahead of tariff deadlines.
In reality, Apple began shifting production out of China several months prior to Liberation Day, and we had been monitoring this closely through our data.
Here, you can see how U.S. smartphone imports from China began declining as early as November 2024. Probably a sharp response from Apple after the Trump election and in anticipation of expected combative stances against China.
Here you can see the same trend, but in PC’s.
We shared these insights with our customers so they can use it in their decision-making process (which they did).
If your company is looking for timely and targeted data to inform your decision-making process - reach out to us here on Substack, DM us on X, or email us at sales@chipsandwafersdata.com.
That’s a wrap for now. See you next week!
Chips & Wafers Team