[TrendForce: DDR5 16Gb (2Gx8) 4800/5600 Average Spot Price Unchanged from Previous Day]

Data released Friday by South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT showed that, driven by sustained global investment in AI, the country's July exports of information and communication technology (ICT) products surged 140.6% YoY. July ICT export value reached $53.4 billion, up from $22.2 billion a year earlier. The ministry said this was the highest July figure on record. South Korea's July ICT imports rose 37.3% YoY to $18.3 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $35.1 billion. By product, driven by strong demand for AI-related chips, semiconductor exports soared 178.8% YoY to $41 billion, extending their growth streak to 17 consecutive months. Exports of computers and communications equipment soared 353.9% YoY to $4.9 billion, and mobile phone exports rose 62.6% YoY to $1.6 billion. By destination, combined exports to China and Hong Kong surged 194.7% YoY. Exports to the US jumped 187% YoY, exports to Vietnam rose 115.7% YoY, exports to the EU grew 202% YoY, and exports to India increased 128.2% YoY.

LG Electronics said Friday that it plans to launch a next-generation humanoid robot in Q1 2027 that is based on NVIDIA’s robotics platform and features bipedal walking capability. The robot will be equipped with the NVIDIA Jetson Thor robotics chip module and will be developed based on the NVIDIA Isaac GR00T humanoid robot foundation model and the Holoscan for Robotics robot safety system. LG plans to integrate the technologies and capabilities of its key subsidiaries into the robot, including actuators from LG Electronics, sensors from LG Innotek, and batteries from LG Energy Solution. In addition, the two companies will pursue comprehensive cooperation across three areas: robotics, AI factories, and mobility.

An upbeat outlook from SanDisk (SNDK.O) boosted optimism about long-term earnings from the AI boom, and Asian memory chip stocks rose. Shares of SanDisk partner Kioxia Holdings rose as much as 8.7% in Tokyo, while shares of memory maker SK Hynix rose as much as 6.5% in Seoul. The Bloomberg Asia Semiconductor Stock Index rose as much as 1.6% and was on track for a fifth consecutive session of gains. SanDisk previously said it expects revenue to grow 15% to 20% from 2028 to 2030, driven by long-term pricing agreements with clients. Andrew Jackson, head of Japanese equities at Ortus Advisors, wrote: “A few years ago, it was unheard of for NAND flash makers to make such accurate long-term forecasts. Compared with more volatile spot memory prices, long-term agreements may help smooth out the classic boom/bust cycle.”