Huawei has reportedly instructed its customers to independently procure high-performance memory for its AI chips, significantly increasing reliance on the black market, according to The Decoder. This move reflects ongoing supply chain issues impacting the tech giant's chip production.
Smugglers are exploiting a loophole in U.S. export regulations by bundling high-bandwidth memory (HBM) with low-end processors, shipping them through Hong Kong, and then separating the components locally. This workaround has driven prices of smuggled HBM3E memory to approximately $4,000 per unit, a sharp rise within just one year, The Decoder reported.
For Japanese investors and markets, this situation highlights the broader risks and complexities in semiconductor supply chains, especially as demand for AI-related hardware grows. Monitoring such developments is crucial for understanding potential impacts on global tech equities and FX markets exposed to semiconductor supply volatility.