Chip foundries are hiking legacy node prices, and chip designers are passing the costs on to their clients: China image sensor chip maker SmartSens notified clients it is raising prices to offset increased costs, as manufacturing partner Samsung hiked prices 20%, and Nexchip 10%, media report, media report, adding Taiwan chip designers Elan and Fitipower recently said they are monitoring rising foundry costs and may have to hike prices as well. Display driver chip and power chip (DDIC, PMIC) makers have said they are also facing foundry cost pressures. The CMOS image sensor market, in particular, has been in an extended downturn the past few years, so a SmartSens price hike may signal the market is stabilizing. $United Microelectronics(UMC.US) #Samsung #Nexchip #PSMC #VIS #Vanguard #SMICY #HuaHong #Hejian #semiconductors

Source: Dan Nystedt