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Welcome to this edition of AltaScient’s Complimentary Critical Minerals Insights , where we highlight the most consequential developments from the past month shaping supply security, processing capacity, traceability enforcement, and geopolitical leverage across critical mineral supply chains. February’s signals reinforced a clear trajectory: midstream control, export governance, and infrastructure positioning are now central to supply-chain power. Governments and strategi

Welcome to the February edition of AltaScient’s Semiconductors Monthly Insights , where we analyze the supply-chain disruptions, pricing signals, and policy actions shaping global semiconductor markets as Q1 demand dynamics continue to unfold. Key Takeaways Semiconductor markets remained tight through February, with AI and high-performance compute continuing to anchor demand across multiple segments. Equity markets showed sustained strength in semiconductor-linked companies,

OEMs like Apple rarely makes supply chain moves by accident. When reports surface that it’s exploring Chinese memory makers YMTC (NAND) and CXMT (DRAM), it’s worth paying attention. At first glance, this looks like a geopolitical headline. In reality, it’s about leverage, resilience, and long-term positioning . The Backdrop: A Tighter Memory Market The global DRAM market remains highly concentrated , with Samsung (~40–45%), SK Hynix (~28–32%), and Micron (~20–23%) collectivel