AI Chip Concept Stocks Watch | Ranking Third by Foundry Output Value Market Share in Q1; SMIC (00981.HK) Opens Higher and Weakens on June 15

NewTimeSpace (newtimespace.com) News: On June 16, 2026, SMIC (00981.HK) opened higher but subsequent retraced, with the company's share price quoted at HK$74.800, down 2.41% as of 13:14 PM.

On the news front, data shows that in the first quarter of 2026, the global output value of the top ten wafer foundries increased by 3.7% quarter-on-quarter to reach USD 47.95 billion, setting another record high for a single quarter. In the first quarter, benefiting from the early stocking by TV, PC, and notebook brands and original design manufacturers (ODMs), coupled with the taking effect of foundry price hikes negotiated with certain 8-inch wafer clients in the second half of 2025, SMIC saw a slight quarter-on-quarter increase in both wafer shipments and average selling price (ASP). Its revenue grew by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter to USD 2.5 billion, maintaining a market share of 5.1% and ranking third.

Cinda Securities pointed out that the continuous high capacity utilization rate in the foundry segment validates the high prosperity of demand for domestic chips. Driven by the robust demand for AI and supporting chips alongside the continuous call for domestic substitution across the industrial chain, the capacity utilization rates (utilization rate/loading rate) of mainland China's twin foundry giants are both running at full capacity, and the trend of simultaneous increases in both volume and price is expected to persist.

SMIC (00981.HK)Provides IC wafer foundry and related technical services. It is the largest pure-play wafer foundry in China by capacity and offers the broadest coverage of process nodes. Its mature and select advanced process lines address applications including smart terminals, IoT, and computing chips. Based on its periodic disclosures, wafer shipments, capacity utilization, and revenue are at historically high levels.

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