Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), China's leading chipmaker, has declared that the semiconductor industry is in 'crisis mode' due to a severe shortage of memory chips, prompting electronics manufacturers to urgently secure supplies. SMIC's CEO noted that the rising demand could lead to overbooking of orders amid this unprecedented global supply crunch.
Stellantis NV is seeking to exit its U.S. battery joint venture with South Korea's Samsung SDI Co. as it scales back its electric vehicle ambitions following over $26 billion in writedowns announced last week. The automaker is exploring divestment options, although no final decision has been made, and the process could be costly and lengthy. Stellantis stated that it continues to engage in discussions with Samsung regarding the future of their joint venture.
Ford CEO Jim Farley highlighted the significant threat posed by Chinese automakers to global competitors, citing their heavily subsidized low-cost production and weak domestic demand as factors that could increase export pressure. Ford's fourth-quarter earnings report revealed the largest profit miss in four years, with earnings per share 32% below expectations, largely due to unexpected tariff costs and a fire at a key supplier plant. Despite these challenges, Ford projects an adjusted EBIT of $8 billion to $10 billion for 2026, up from $6.8 billion last year.
Heineken announced plans to cut between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs globally, representing nearly 7% of its workforce, as it faces declining beer demand and falling sales volumes. The Dutch brewer, which employs 87,000 people worldwide, reported a 1.2% drop in beer sales volume last year but a 4.4% increase in operating profit to €4.28 billion. Heineken expects slower profit growth for 2026, projecting an increase of 2% to 6%, down from previous forecasts.
One email per day. Unsubscribe anytime.