Electronics Supply Chain Weekly Digest 5-2-25.
DATAPOINT OF THE WEEK: ISM reported US mfg PMI downticked to 48.7 in April from 49.0 in March, contracting for a second straight month and reaching a five-month low as tariffs on imported goods continue to strain supply chains and raise prices at the factory gate.
China’s factory activity shrank in April at the fastest pace in 16 months, with the official PMI falling to 49.0 in April, down from 50.5 in March as new US tariffs disrupted exports and dimmed hopes for continued recovery. Despite this, Chinese officials insist the country can weather the trade shock without conceding to US demands.
In Europe HCOB mfg PMI rose to a 32-month high of 49.0 in April, up from 48.6 in March, signaling improving output in Germany, France, and Italy despite ongoing contraction, weak demand, and falling exports. New orders neared stabilization and input costs eased, but job cuts persisted, and business confidence hit a 2025 low, reflecting lingering economic uncertainty.
Headlines:
Auto/Transportation
- BYD April NEV sales jump 21% Y/Y as BEV demand and overseas growth hit records
- CATL unveils next-gen salt battery, outpacing Korean rivals with early sodium-ion push
- Chinese carmakers grow in Europe with hybrids but face carbon hurdles and trade tensions, according to DigiTimes
- Ford April sales rise 16% Y/Y on truck demand and discounts, but EVs slump and tariffs cloud pricing strategy
- GM trims 2025 profit outlook on $5B tariff hit but posts strongest April sales since 2007
- Trump eases auto tariffs with credits for US-assembled vehicles and duty-free parts import limits
- Major automakers want US Congress to bar California 2035 EV plan
- Valeo shifts production to USMCA regions, avoids tariffs as 1Q sales dip and cost-saving plan accelerates
- Volvo plans $1.87B cost cuts and US restructuring after 60% profit drop and tariff impact
Datacenter
- Amazon 1Q25 revenue tops expectations with AWS growth, but misses targets on cloud segment
- Flex boosts US manufacturing for AI-driven data center demand with new facilities in South Carolina and Texas, according to DigiTimes
- Google 1Q results show AI investments driving ad growth, with cloud and AI Overviews reaching 1.5B users monthly
- Microsoft results exceed expectations with strong Azure growth, fueled by non-AI cloud demand and strategic capex shift
- Super Micro cuts Mar-Q forecast amid delays in AI platforms and inventory challenges
Industrial
- Japan factory output drops 1.1% in March, with auto sector hit by export slowdown and US tariffs
Semiconductors
- Amkor 1Q25 sales dip 3.2%, but growth in computing and consumer segments offsets automotive weakness
- BASIC Act proposes boosting advanced manufacturing investment credit to support US semiconductor production
- EU’s reliance on Chinese legacy chips raises risks, as progress on chip market goals falls short, according to Politico
- Global silicon wafer shipments rise 2.2% Y/Y in 1Q, but face seasonal slowdown and inventory adjustments, says SEMI
- Intel announces new auto partnerships at Shanghai show to advance AI in driving and cockpit systems
- Inventec announces plans for $85M server facility in Texas, joining Taiwanese peers expanding US operations
- Nvidia sticks with Bianca architecture for GB300 AI servers, delaying Cordelia redesign for faster production, according to DigiTimes
- NXP 1Q revenue drops 9% Y/Y amid mixed segment performance, but signs of recovery emerge for 2Q
- Pegatron chairman criticizes US tariffs for causing uncertainty and potential electronics shortages, says Reuters
- Qualcomm beats 2Q expectations, but 3Q outlook dims amid Apple’s modem shift and tariff concerns
- Renesas delays EV power semiconductor production in Japan amid weak demand and tariff uncertainties, according to DigiTimes
- Samsung 1Q revenue rises 10% Y/Y on strong smartphone sales and chip stockpiling, but warns of 2H25 uncertainty
- Sony explores spinning off semiconductor unit, potentially valued at $49B, amid market uncertainty and slowing growth, according to Bloomberg
- Texas Instruments launches advanced automotive chips to support Level 3 and 4 ADAS development
- Xiaomi to debut in-house “Xring” SoC with Xiaomi 15S Pro, aiming to reduce reliance on Qualcomm and MediaTek
Consumer/Other
- Apple plans to shift most iPhone production to India by 2026, aiming for 80M units annually amid tariff and geopolitical concerns, says DigiTimes
- China holds off on new stimulus despite escalating US tariffs, betting on a potential US tariff rollback, according to Reuters
- China quietly creates “whitelist” of US-made products exempt from 125% tariffs, including microchips and pharmaceuticals
- Shipping volume will plummet 35% next week, LA port official says
- US to impose fees on Chinese ships starting October 2025 to boost domestic shipbuilding and address maritime dominance