Southchip Technology: Current Order Demand is Robust, Business in the Automotive Sector May Maintain Rapid Growth Momentum

"In 2025, the overall end-use market demand is gradually recovering. Currently, our company has strong order demand in high-end consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial sectors, and we expect revenue to maintain rapid growth this year," said Chenjie Ruan, Chairman and General Manager of Southchip Semiconductor Technology, at today's (June 9) earnings conference.

In Q1 this year, Southchip's net profit declined significantly. Data shows the company's Q1 revenue reached 685 million yuan, up 13.86% YoY, while net profit attributable to shareholders was 63.4926 million yuan, down 36.86% YoY, and adjusted net profit stood at 56.2623 million yuan, down 43.76% YoY.

The company attributed the profit decline in its financial report mainly to increased R&D investment. Its Q1 R&D expenditure totaled approximately 124 million yuan, up 37.84% YoY.

Ruan told the Sci-Tech Innovation Board Daily that Southchip will continue focusing on high-end consumer electronics, automotive electronics, industrial, AI, and communication sectors, with more new product codes expected to launch and enter mass production this year. As business scale expands further,revenue proportions from high-end consumer, automotive, and industrial sectors are projected to increase further in 2025.

The Sci-Tech Innovation Board Daily noted that currently,Southchip is in rapid expansion phase in automotive sector. In 2024, its automotive business grew 179%, covering auto body control, smart driving, smart cockpit, and onboard charging. The company has launched multiple new products in these areas, including some high-end PMICs and driver chips for domain controllers.

Ruan stated at the conference that in 2025, the company will introduce products for more sub-sectors,with automotive business expected to maintain rapid growth momentum and further increase its proportion. He expressed confidence in achieving fast growth and rising share for automotive electronics in coming years.

Regarding core mobile device business,Ruan said, "This segment is expected to continue growing this year, driven by charging management, display power management, and lithium battery management businesses."

In wearables market,Southchip already has chip products like DC-DC, Charger, lithium battery protection, and wireless charging applied in smartwatches/bands, TWS, and VR/AR end-use products. Ruan indicated the company will further strengthen product deployment in wearables market.

In March this year, Southchip Technology proposed to change its initial public offering (IPO) investment project, the "Construction Project of the Testing Center," into the "Construction Project of the Chip Testing Industrial Park." The total investment for the planned chip testing industrial park project is approximately 4.67 times that of the original testing center project, amounting to 1.443 billion yuan. The project's planned construction period has been extended from three years to nine years.

Regarding the latest progress of this project, Ruan Chenjie stated that the construction project of the chip testing industrial park has completed the registration of the implementing entity and the opening of a special account for the raised funds. Currently, the company is advancing the design phase of the park's construction. The first phase of the investment project is expected to commence production in 2027, gradually covering the company's capacity needs in the power management chip testing segment.

In terms of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), in January this year, Southchip Technology announced its intention to acquire 100% equity of MCU producer Sunrise Micro for 160 million yuan in cash. Regarding the latest progress of this acquisition project, Ruan Chenjie stated that the company has completed the acquisition transaction of Sunrise Micro in Zhuhai so far and will continue to promote the integration of both parties in the M&A process.

In response to investors' concerns about Sunrise Micro's new order situation, Ruan Chenjie said that the integration work between Sunrise Micro in Zhuhai and the company is progressing as planned. Currently, Sunrise Micro's business orders are in line with industry conditions.

Regarding overseas business, Ruan Chenjie stated that expanding overseas markets is a long-term development strategy for the company. Currently, the company has established a presence in Singapore, South Korea, and other locations, targeting customers in high-end consumer electronics, automotive, and other sectors.This year, the company is expected to achieve new breakthroughs with key overseas customers.