Market Update | 2025-08-22 | TE: Increased demand for automobiles; NXP: RCI production line prices rise by 200%

Original factory market trends

• TE CONNECTIVITY: Increased demand for automobiles

According to reports, some automakers' forecasts for September to December are already double the demand for the first eight months. September to December is the peak season for automotive materials, with both demand and production capacity outperforming the January to August period. Meanwhile, distributors have reported that demand for automotive materials has begun to pick up gradually since last week. Distributors are also collecting and reminding clients about their future demand for automotive materials to prepare for the September to December period.

It is recommended that the sales team take advantage of the current activity in automotive connectors to inquire about clients' automotive material-related needs, remind clients to make advance forecasts, and prevent shortages when demand increases.

• TEXAS INSTRUMENTS: Prices for 60,000 models rose by more than 30%

（1）Price

Over 60,000 models saw price hikes of more than 30%, with automotive and industrial control products accounting for 70% of the total. The price adjustments cover multiple sectors, including industrial control, automotive electronics, and consumer electronics. Among these, industrial control and automotive electronics products account for 70%, consumer electronics for 20%, enterprise systems for 5%, and communication equipment for 4%.

Most products saw price increases between 10% and 25%, but over 40% of products saw increases exceeding 30%. Currently, Texas Instruments' price hike may be aimed at driving sustained growth in future performance.

(2) Demand

Due to tariff uncertainties, there was a surge in demand at the beginning of the second quarter, but this situation will gradually return to normal in the third quarter.

(3) Popular material

RI-TRP-DR2B-40 is a rewritable, reusable low-frequency RFID tag that allows easy erasure and rewriting of tag data using a reader, thereby reducing production costs and energy consumption.

REF3020AIDBZR is a voltage reference chip that delivers outstanding performance in high-precision measurement and low-power applications, and is widely used in industrial, medical, and test equipment.

• NXP Semiconductors: RCI production line prices rise 200%

(1) Price

According to the notice, NXP is expected to significantly increase prices for RCI production line products after August 22, with an estimated increase of over 200%. The affected models are field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and RF amplifiers, with model prefixes including MMG, MRF, AFM, and AFT.

(2) Information

Q3,the original manufacturer will prioritize the procurement needs of major customers for automotive MCUs, while the trade market will still rely on spot supplies.

(3) Popular materials

FS32K144HAT0MLHT, Arm Cortex-M4F automotive-grade MCU, used in BCM and air conditioning controllers, with increasing market demand as multiple new vehicle models are introduced.

MCIMX6G2CVM05AB, i.MX 6UltraLite MPU, used in industrial gateways and in-vehicle entertainment systems, with sustained demand for the i.MX series.

PCA82C251T/YM, automotive-grade CAN transceiver, primarily used in body networks, but production capacity is being squeezed by MCUs, resulting in tight supply.

(4) New Product

We have launched the BMx7318/7518 series—a cutting-edge 18-channel lithium-ion battery cell controller IC product line specifically designed for electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems (ESS), and 48V applications. This BMS (Battery Management System) is engineered to revolutionize battery management technology completely.

• Microchip Technology：Delivery times for some products have been significantly shortened.

(1) Demand

This month's main demand was concentrated in automotive and industrial control MCUs, with interface/analog demand on the rise and general material inventory stabilizing.

(2) Delivery date

The overall spot market inventory is relatively adequate, with delivery times for products such as signal chains, timers, and switch-mode power supplies having been "significantly shortened." However, some MCU analog and power management chips still have long delivery times of 6–12 weeks, while general-purpose materials remain stable at 4–5 weeks.

(3) New Product

On August 5, the PCIe Gen5 NVMe RAID storage accelerator was released for servers and data center OEMs.

CoaXPress 2.0 interface devices (CXP-12, 12.5 Gbps) will be available on August 6 for high-speed industrial/medical imaging.

The AVR® SD 8-bit MCU series will be available starting August 5, targeting low-power IoT/industrial edge applications.

(4) Popular materials

Popular part numbers include:

ATMEGA2560-16AU, an 8-bit AVR MCU primarily used for 3D printing and industrial control, with consistently stable demand.

PIC16F877A-I/P, an 8-bit classic MCU, primarily used for industrial control teaching boards.

MCP2515-I/ST, a CAN controller, primarily driven by demand from the automotive and energy storage BMS sectors.

DSPIC30F2010-30I/SP, a 16-bit DSP MCU, primarily used for motor control and automotive air conditioning.

• ANALOG DEVICES：Some materials are experiencing spot price increases.

(1) Price

AD835ARZ-REEL7 is currently in very short supply on the market, causing spot prices to surge to 2-3 times the order price;

LTC5510IUF#PBF is a high-linearity mixer commonly used in signal transmission and reception equipment. Due to limited availability, spot prices have risen to approximately 10 times the order price.

(2) Delivery date

Currently, the average delivery time for orders is 20 weeks or more, mainly due to the closure of some factories and limited production capacity. Among these, the delivery time for amplifiers, data converters, and interfaces is approximately 20 weeks, while the delivery time for switches and voltage regulators is relatively good, at around 14 weeks.

(3) Popular materials

Overall demand remains relatively stable, with hotspots concentrated in certain hard-to-replace and discontinued components, such as ADXL357BEZ-RL7 and LTM4644IY.

• DNMICRON：DDR4 supply control, prices remain high

(1) Price

DDR3 and DDR4 prices remain at high levels. Micron's industrial control and automotive chips are not easily replaceable. Micron's DDR4 is in a supply control phase, with the original manufacturer only maintaining shipments to strategic partners and continuing to reduce production until existing orders are fulfilled. As a result, Micron's DDR4 remains unavailable at high prices.

DDR3 and DDR4 prices remain at high levels, with Micron dominating the industrial control and automotive chip segments, where these chips have limited alternatives. Micron's DDR4 is currently in a supply-constrained phase, with the original manufacturer only maintaining shipments to strategic partners and continuing production cuts until existing orders are fulfilled. As a result, the situation where Micron's DDR4 is unavailable at high prices persists.

(2) Information

Global memory leader Samsung has canceled its plan to stop supplying DDR4 dram by the end of this year, postponing the move until the end of 2026. The surge in DDR4 spot prices, which had been driven by the withdrawal of major manufacturers such as Samsung, is now likely to face downward pressure. At the same time, DDR5 production capacity may be affected, and the market share of DDR4 and DDR5 will need to be monitored closely.

• Japan Solderless Terminal：JWPF Waterproof Series is a hit

(1) Demand

Some channels are not very optimistic about the automotive materials market. For example, BYD's market share has declined, and demand for JST materials has decreased. The automotive market is also experiencing a slow season.

(2) Information

Malaysia is JST's largest factory. Considering delivery schedule issues and the rising connector market, the original factory plans to adjust production lines for some popular series and transfer series such as board-end SHR and JH.

(3) Popular materials

According to supplier feedback, the JWPF waterproof series of connectors remained in high demand in Q3 2025. It is recommended to stock up in anticipation of continued demand.

• AMPHENOL：The market outlook is positive after September

(1) Information

Agents predict that Amphenol's market will see a strong upward trend after September. This is mainly due to the expansion of its brand lines. In Q3 2025, Amphenol plans to acquire its Connectivity and Cable Solutions (CCS) business for $10.5 billion in cash, further enhancing its fiber interconnect capabilities in IT data communications and communications networks.

• Infineon Technology：Production capacity and delivery schedules remain tight

(1) Delivery date

Sensors: approximately 4-26 weeks, switch-mode regulators: approximately 14 weeks, sram storage: 12-52 weeks, currently relatively stable; automotive MCUs: approximately 32-45 weeks, delivery capacity remains tight.

(2) Information

Recently, Infineon announced that it will invest an additional 30 billion Malaysian ringgit (approximately 6.3 billion US dollars) in Malaysia to build the world's largest silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor factory in the Kulim High-Tech Industrial Park in Kedah. The factory will focus primarily on automotive, green industrial power, and power and sensor systems.

• YAGEO：Normal delivery time, stable prices

(1) Price

Market prices are stable and not much different from the second quarter.

(2) Delivery date

Production capacity is stable, and delivery schedules are on track. Standard materials are delivered within 8 weeks; special items such as alloy resistors and thin-film resistors are delivered within 14 weeks; AC automotive-grade products are delivered within 14 weeks.

(3) Revenue

Yageo Corporation has announced its financial results and operating performance for the second quarter of 2025. Consolidated revenue for the second quarter was NT$32.771 billion, an increase of 5.4% from the previous quarter and 4.3% from the same period last year; Net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company for the second quarter was NT$49.98 billion, a decrease of 9.6% from the previous quarter and a decrease of 8.0% from the same period last year. Earnings per share for the quarter were NT$9.74.

• STMicroelectronics：Price inversion for some models

(1) Price

Spot prices continue to fluctuate, while futures prices remain stable. The market remains pessimistic, with a large inventory of discounted goods and severe price competition. General-purpose materials in the 103 series and 407 series are still in an inverted price state, and the H7 series, such as STM32H750VBT6 and STM32H743VIT6, are also in an inverted price state.

(2) Delivery date

MCU: 13–15 weeks; Consumer products: 10–12 weeks; Automotive: 26–30 weeks; Silicon carbide: 20 weeks.

(3) Popular materials

The drone models STM32F405RGT6 and STM32F722RET6 are currently in high demand.

• AEONSEMI：The terminal market is expected to grow in Q3

(1) Stock

Inventory value increased by US$9 million month-on-month, with inventory turnover days decreasing by 11 days to 208 days. The base inventory level remained healthy at 121 days, while distribution inventory stood at 10.8 weeks (10.1 weeks in the first quarter), within the target range of 9 to 11 weeks.

(2) Revenue

The terminal market (automotive/industrial/other) is expected to grow in Q3. The automotive business will improve relative to the operational low point in Q2, while the industrial and automotive businesses are expected to achieve low single-digit growth. Other industries (including the artificial intelligence sector) will see more significant growth, reaching the mid-to-high single-digit growth range.

• Monolithic Power Systems:Q1 revenue increased by 39.2% year-over-year

(1) Revenue

In Q1 2025, revenue reached US$637.6 million (up 39.2% year-over-year), with a gross margin exceeding 55%, net profit of US$193.8 million, and ample cash flow (operating cash flow of US$256.4 million for the quarter).

In Q4 2024, demand for automotive chips saw significant growth, while demand for AI power chips for drone applications is expected to increase in early 2025. Enterprise data and storage demand will become the company's primary revenue source, supporting its diversification strategy. The company's 2025-2027 targets include revenue growth exceeding the market by 10%-15%, maintaining a gross margin of 55%-60%, and continued increases in R&D investment.

• Intel: Launches Panther Lake processor

(1) New product

Introducing the PantherLake processor, featuring an 18A process (RibbonFET+PowerVia), delivering a 15% improvement in energy efficiency and a 30% increase in density. The hybrid architecture (6P+8E cores) integrates the Xe3 GPU, supporting AI inference efficiency doubled. Despite facing yield challenges (20%-30%), Intel has accelerated mass production to capture market share. The Core Ultra 200 series is now available, targeting long battery life and AI functionality, competing with AMD's Zen 5 architecture products.

• PANDUIT：Except for cable ties and materials inside the cabinet, other materials are subject to delivery delays

(1) Delivery date

Due to equipment adjustments at our new factory in Mexico, there is a risk of 1-2 month delays for all product categories except cable ties and cabinet interior materials.

(2) Information

Overseas production capacity has increased significantly. By the end of July, a new factory in Mexico (with a full range of production lines) had been completed, and in August, it began to be put into operation and production.

• C&K Switches：Increased demand for automobiles

(1) Demand

Agents report an increase in demand for automobiles in the market recently. Please pay close attention to the needs of automotive customers and seize market opportunities.

(2) Revenue

Littelfuse (acquired by C&K in 2022) reported revenue of $613 million for the second quarter of 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 10%, with automotive products contributing an 8% increase in revenue.

• GigaDevice：Products such as memory and microcontrollers can replace Infineon

(1) Product

The company primarily manufactures memory chips, microcontrollers, sensors, and analog ICs, which are widely used in various fields such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automotive electronics, industrial control, consumer electronics, mobile communications, medical devices, and office equipment. It can serve as an alternative to Infineon.

The main product lines are focused on two core product categories: memory chips (especially NOR Flash) and microcontrollers (MCUs).Memory chips: The mainstream GD25 series is a general-purpose flagship product with strong industry compatibility. The flagship model is GD25Q.

Microcontrollers (MCU): GD32 is a flagship brand offering high-performance MCUs at a competitive cost. The mainstream GD32F4/F3 series (balanced flagship) includes core models GD32F450 and GD32F303.

(2) Demand

The trends toward intelligent vehicles and smart homes continue.

Core Vision (Industry News)

• PC DDR4 contract prices surpass DDR5, CSP follow-up orders drive up Server DDR4 prices

TrendForce reports that DRAM manufacturers and PC original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are currently finalizing third-quarter contract prices. Due to limited production capacity and a shift in production resources toward the server market, most of the demand from the PC sector cannot be met.

In July, the price of PC DDR4 8GB modules surpassed that of DDR5 modules of the same capacity, marking a rare "price inversion." Many PC OEMs, unable to secure sufficient supplies, have had to reduce production and sales plans for DDR4 models and increase the proportion of DDR5 models. Overall, DDR4 has entered a "price increase, volume decrease" pattern in the PC DRAM market, and the gradual phase-out of DDR4 products from new model configurations has become a trend.

Meanwhile, DDR4 has become a standard configuration for AI computing and high-efficiency data processing in next-generation data centers. Cloud service providers (CSPs) have placed additional orders with the three major DRAM manufacturers, who are prioritizing server customer orders. It is expected that as DDR5 penetration in the server market further increases by 2026, demand for DDR4 will gradually slow down.