By Mark LaPedus
Apple, the world’s largest chip buyer, this year is expected to procure nearly $28 billion worth of semiconductors, up 15% from $24 billion in 2011, according to iSuppli. Apple is set to expand its lead in global chip purchasing in 2013, with growth of 12.3%.

Apple posted mixed results. “Our most recent checks confirm a lull in Apple’s iPhone production in 2Q12, down roughly 22% sequentially toward 29 million units,” said Craig Berger, an analyst with FBR. “Checks suggest Apple securing monthly iPhone 5 production capacity of 18 million to 20 million units, well ahead of Street sales estimates.”

Apple has also acquired fingerprint security company AuthenTec for $356 million.

SEMI reported that more than 60% of semiconductor equipment and materials companies say IP challenges have had an adverse impact on their companies.

GlobalFoundries is moving forward with the final construction for the extension of Module 1 at its Fab 8 campus in New York.

Rambus and GlobalFoundries disclosed the results from their collaboration on two separate memory architecture-based silicon test chips at 28nm.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC) and ARM announced a multi-year agreement extending their collaboration beyond 20nm to deliver ARM processors on finFET transistors.

Rohm has taken a step in the foundry business. Under an agreement, the Japanese company will manufacture FRAMs for Ramtron.

Korean foundry vendor Dongbu HiTek has been certified to implement high-reliability ICs per the MIL-PRF-38535 standard.

Toshiba will cut production by 30% within its NAND flash memory fab in Japan amid a downturn in the sector.

Micron Technology’s recent purchase of bankrupt Japanese entity Elpida is a risk, according to iSuppli.

IC Insights forecasts the automotive IC market will grow 8% to $19.6 billion in 2012, up from $18.2 billion in 2011.

Samsung maintained its LCD TV leadership amid dismal market conditions.

Synopsys has completed the acquisition of Ciranova, a privately held electronic design automation (EDA) company.

Tags: Apple, ARM, Dongbu HiTek, Elpida, FBR, FRAM, GlobalFoundries, IC Insights, iSuppli, Micron Technology, Rambus, Ramtron, Rohm, Samsung Electronics, SEMI, Toshiba, TSMC

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