ByteDance is considering a sharp increase in capital spending this year as the TikTok owner pushes deeper into artificial intelligence infrastructure — a move that could make it one of China's most aggressive investors in data centers, servers, and custom chips.
Qualcomm has reportedly landed more than one ASIC customer, with a separate project for a US cloud service provider also taking shape, according to industry sources. The development follows reports from Bloomberg and other media that ByteDance, the developer of TikTok, is Qualcomm's first major client for its custom chip push.
Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation said it is accelerating restructuring and diversification efforts after posting losses in 2025, as the petrochemical major pivots toward higher-value materials, including semiconductor-related products such as polyimide (PI) and silicon carbide (SiC), with early results expected by 2027.
Nvidia's new Taiwan headquarters is expected to begin construction by the end of 2026 and officially open in 2030, and CEO Jensen Huang is propagating that Taiwan "needs more electricity" to fund projects. With the AI cluster revolving around Nvidia, Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) estimates that power demand in the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park (BSTP) area will reach approximately 180MW.
Huawei reported that cumulative global shipments of its Watch Fit series had topped 24 million units as of April 2026, signaling accelerating momentum for the vendor's smart wearables business amid continued US restrictions on its smartphone operations. The company said the Watch Fit lineup has become one of its best-selling fashion-sport smart wearables as Huawei pursues growth in Europe, Southeast Asia, and other overseas markets.
Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation announced it will debut at COMPUTEX 2026 next week to present a push into semiconductor-grade materials and low-carbon hydrogen supply aimed at cutting emissions in chip manufacturing. The company said it plans to start producing 5N5 high-purity low-carbon hydrogen in the third quarter of 2027 and will emphasize links between its chemicals business and the semiconductor supply chain at the Taipei event.
Chief Telecom said AI computing demand drove stronger leasing interest in its artificial intelligence data center business, lifting 2025 results. The firm did not rule out another AI data center build-out in the second half of 2026. Executives said at the shareholders' meeting on April 27 that letters of intent for the fourth Central Taiwan Science Park AI data center have topped 50%, and occupancy at the LY2 smart data center is expected to exceed 90% by the end of 2027.
China has expanded its state travel controls into the private technology sector, deliberately blocking top AI talent from leaving the country without explicit government authorization.
China Airlines said demand tied to artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and semiconductor shipments is helping fuel a strong rebound in air cargo, underscoring Taiwan's growing importance at the center of the global technology supply chain.
Asia Optical reported 2025 consolidated revenue of about NT$26.44 billion and net profit attributable to the parent of NT$1.843 billion, producing earnings per share of NT$6.6, the company announced at its shareholders' meeting on May 27.
Hotai Motor Co. told shareholders on May 27 that Taiwan's auto market was expected to strengthen in 2026 as demand for semiconductors and AI applications supported exports and the broader economy. The company forecast the full-year vehicle market could reach 440,000 units, attributing the outlook to a stabilizing global economy, policy continuity and a pickup in replacement demand.
More coverage
