SMIC (981 HK) Co. CEO says increased wafer prices for most sought-after capacities

Foundry management commentary on wafer pricing is the standard way tightness in leading-edge and in-demand nodes first surfaces, before it shows up in reported ASPs and utilisation figures. In past upcycles of this kind, price increases announced for the most sought-after capacities have tended to be the leading edge: constrained nodes get repriced first, with mature and oversupplied capacity following only if demand broadens, so the distinction between selective and across-the-board increases is the operative one. For SMIC specifically, pricing commentary carries an additional read-through given the constraints on its equipment access: firm pricing at sought-after nodes in prior episodes has often reflected capacity scarcity as much as demand strength. The transmission channel runs through foundry peers' own pricing posture, fabless customers' cost bases and margin guidance, and equipment order patterns further up the chain. Worth watching next are the utilisation and blended ASP disclosures at the next results, any matching commentary from regional peers, and whether customers flag cost pressure on their own calls. As a single management remark rather than a formal announcement, the signal is directional on the cycle rather than quantifiable.