As global geopolitical tension, economic instability, and persistent inflation affected the recovery of consumer products, Coretronic's shipments and revenue declined in 2023. However, the commencement of mass production at its second Vietnamese factory in February is expected to boost the business this year, and more significant growth is expected in 2025. Overall, since some of Coretronic's projects would only officially commence in the fourth quarter of this year, a stronger growth momentum is anticipated in 2025.
According to April Huang, general manager of the networking and communication business group (NCG) at Qisda, inventory adjustments among the company's customers during the second half of 2023 exceeded expectations, which may lead to a pessimistic forecast for the first half of 2024. However, growth is still expected for the entire year. Huang, who is also chairwoman of Qisda subsidiaries Alpha Networks, Hitron Technologies, and Interactive Digital Technologies, notes that companies should optimize for the long run during operational lows, which is why the corporate group has been integrating production and R&D resources across its three network and communications subsidiaries, while more clearly defining the missions and business strategies of each company.
Indonesia, the world's largest nickel exporter, has a sobering message for struggling producers of the battery metal elsewhere: don't expect any meaningful revival in prices.
East Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China, have successively crossed the threshold into low birthrate and aging societies from the late 20th century to the early 21st century. This demographic shift has led to a gradual relocation of their industrial production centers to Southeast Asia with a younger population structure. However, United Nations estimates indicate that the 11 countries of Southeast Asia entered the initial stage of an aging society between 2019 and 2023, mirroring the trajectory of their East Asian counterparts.
In response to its mid-term expansion strategy, Unimicron Technology has upped its capex goal for this year by NT$6.9 billion (US$218.8 million) to NT$24.2 billion, a nearly 40% increase, according to the IC substrate and PCB manufacturer.
Leading ODM Quanta Computer is well ahead of its own projected progress for manufacturing notebooks at its Thailand facilities, say sources in the supply chain: monthly production has already reached 150,000 units, surpassing the original shipment target of 300,000 units for the first quarter of 2024, as requested by Quanta's US-based customers. With Inventec also prepping for notebook production in Thailand, the country is now poised to become another new notebook manufacturing powerhouse in addition to Vietnam.
Taiwanese OSAT leader Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) has recently announced its plan to bolster overseas production by acquiring Infineon's backend assembly and testing facilities in the Philippines and South Korea for over NT$2.1 billion (US$66.37 million). The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2024 at the earliest.
Hon Hai Technology (Foxconn) is rapidly growing its electric vehicle (EV) business, one of the three industries where the contract manufacturing company strives to position itself.
The government of Vietnam decided to ramp up support for the semiconductor industry and announced plans to roll out a series of tax incentives and set up investment funds by mid-2024 to bolster the industry.
According to Young Liu, chairman of Hon Hai Technology (Foxconn), the Taiwan-based contract electronics vendor collaboration with Apple will be more extensive.
Thailand will offer new incentives to promote the local production of battery cells and the adoption of new-energy buses and trucks as it seeks to cement its position as a hub for EV manufacturing.
Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong recently visited Malaysia to check the group's local battery production. He emphasized that it is critical to keep investing in the battery business, implying that Samsung SDI plans to increase investments while the EV market has slowed.
