Global photoresist prices rise up to 38%, Xilong Scientific hits limit up

Huate Gas said at its 2026 semi-annual results briefing on October 8 that the number of products for which it has achieved import substitution has increased from 22 at the time of its IPO to 57, and that it will focus on commercializing high-end electronic specialty gases such as disilane, hydrogen bromide, and boron trichloride. In response to investor questions about continued share reductions by employee shareholding platforms and senior executives, the company said that the three entities, including Xiamen Huahong Duofu, are all pre-IPO employee shareholding platforms established in 2012, and that the reductions were driven by partners' capital planning needs. There was no cashing out at highs or lack of confidence in the company's development, and block trades with certain discounts were chosen to improve reduction efficiency and reduce the impact on the secondary market. The company said its sales pricing comprehensively considers factors such as product costs, market competition, and customers' gas consumption scale, stability, and credit periods, with pricing characterized by case-by-case negotiation. On the performance front, the 2026 semi-annual report published on August 25 showed operating revenue of 872 million yuan, up 28.95 percent year on year; net profit attributable to the parent company of 92.83 million yuan, up 19.16 percent; non-GAAP net profit attributable to the parent company of 89.94 million yuan, up 19.29 percent; and net operating cash flow of 133 million yuan, up 46.93 percent year on year. In the first half, specialty gas business revenue reached 586.04 million yuan, up 38.56 percent year on year, semiconductor segment revenue reached 342.89 million yuan, up 28.22 percent year on year, and helium and related products accounted for about 20 percent of total operating revenue, with revenue up 133 percent year on year.

BofA Securities upgraded French chip materials maker Soitec to "buy" from "neutral" and raised its price target to €300 from €152, sending the shares up 7% in Paris on Friday. The broker cited Soitec's 90%-plus share of the key material used in silicon photonics, a technology that moves data with light instead of copper. BofA forecasts photonics wafer revenue growth of 172%, 74% and 57% in fiscal 2027, 2028 and 2029, and said several major customers have signed long-term "take-or-pay" contracts that commit them to pay whether or not they use the wafers. Soitec itself said in September it expects photonics wafer growth of 2.5 to 3 times in the year ending March 31, 2027. BofA also expects Soitec to announce a Singapore factory extension in coming months, estimated to cost €700 million and add 1 million 300mm wafers a year of capacity, and raised its earnings-per-share forecasts to €1.61 from €0.08 for fiscal 2027, to €5.57 from €2.65 for fiscal 2028, and to €10.62 from €5.11 for fiscal 2029.

Roshow Technology stated on an interactive platform on October 9 that its 8-inch silicon carbide substrate wafers have begun generating sales. The company said some samples have been sent to leading domestic customers for testing and verification, and that work on capacity building, yield improvement, and market expansion is continuing to advance.

Guangzhi Technology stated on an investor interaction platform on October 9 that its downstream customers for indium phosphide substrate business are domestic and overseas optical communication chip and device manufacturers, and batch deliveries have been achieved to date. The company said its domestic customers cover leading optical chip enterprises, and it has shipped in volume to leading optical communication firms overseas. Among these, the 6-inch indium phosphide substrate has secured an order from a certain global leading customer.

Lion Micro announced after market close on October 9 that it plans to acquire a 3.6221% stake in Jinruihong Microelectronics Quzhou Company Limited held by SDIC Venture Capital through public bidding, with a base transaction price of 269 million yuan. Jinruihong Microelectronics is Lion Micro's production base for 12-inch silicon wafers, with complete processes and production capabilities for silicon single crystal ingots, silicon lapped wafers, silicon polished wafers, and silicon epitaxial wafers. After the transaction is completed, Lion Micro's direct shareholding in Jinruihong Microelectronics will rise from 57.4403% to 61.0624%. SDIC Venture Capital was a financial investor shareholder when Jinruihong Microelectronics was established, with a capital contribution of 200 million yuan, and this time it is making an orderly exit through public listing on the Beijing Equity Exchange. In August this year, Lion Micro already acquired the 11.4705% stake in Zhejiang Jinruihong held by SDIC Venture Capital, and completed full payment in September, making Zhejiang Jinruihong a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.