CONNECT WITH US
Wednesday 30 September 2026
From EVs to AI humanoid robots: Tesla leans on Chinese manufacturing once again
Energy, AI robotics, and autonomous vehicle maker Tesla is reportedly replicating its electric vehicle (EV) playbook by turning to Chinese manufacturing to support the supply chain ramp-up for its Optimus humanoid robot. In addition to conducting factory audits at three auto parts manufacturers in East China, a Tesla delegation also inspected related suppliers in cities such as Hangzhou and Shanghai.
Wednesday 30 September 2026
Inside China's 3D DRAM push: from lab to fab, and the road ahead
China's push into 3D DRAM is moving from early-stage research into wafer processes and equipment, with efforts spanning the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMECAS), the Beijing Superstring Memory Research Institute (SAMT), CXMT, and equipment maker NAURA Technology Group. The coordinated advance highlights both the momentum behind 3D DRAM and the technical hurdles still blocking mass production.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
SoftBank subsidiary Saimemory taps Shinko to bring ZAM closer to commercialization
Saimemory, a SoftBank subsidiary, has brought Shinko Electric Industries into its effort to commercialize Z-Angle Memory (ZAM), adding packaging-substrate, high-density integration and manufacturing expertise to a next-generation memory project that already includes Intel and Japan's RIKEN.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
Samsung reshuffles DRAM roadmap, prioritizing B1b hybrid bonding for D0a, HBM5
Samsung Electronics is reshaping its next-generation dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) roadmap, elevating its B1b wafer-to-wafer (W2W) hybrid bonding technology from a project-specific development to the core technology behind D0a, its first sub-10nm DRAM generation. Industry observers believe Samsung's push to commercialize B1b DRAM earlier could also benefit its next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM) products, including HBM5.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
RoboTechnik completes Hong Kong listing to fund ficonTEC expansion in silicon photonics
RoboTechnik completed a Hong Kong listing on September 29 and began trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, according to its German photonics automation subsidiary ficonTEC. The new capital will be used for further investment in ficonTEC, which is expanding its role in silicon photonics and optical interconnect manufacturing for AI and high-performance computing infrastructure.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
South Korea AI compute squeeze hits researchers and startups
South Korea's AI sector is facing a growing GPU shortage as research institutes and small companies struggle to secure enough compute for model training and deployment. As government support ends, research teams are finding it harder to continue training, while startups are being squeezed by rising rental costs and long-term contract demands from suppliers.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
Samsung bonus plan to lift South Korea talent race

Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions division is set to announce the calculation and payout rules for its special management performance bonus in late September, after a holiday break. The move comes as SK Hynix continues recruiting experienced talent, underscoring how pay systems and workplace conditions have become key to attracting and retaining workers at South Korea's semiconductor giants.

Tuesday 29 September 2026
Chips make up nearly half of South Korea's September exports; China, Hong Kong account for 52% of them
Semiconductors made up nearly half of South Korea's exports in the first 20 days of September, while China and Hong Kong combined accounted for more than half of the country's chip shipments in August, underscoring the growing concentration of the latest export surge by both product and destination.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
South Korea looks beyond high-nickel NCM in battery push
South Korea is broadening its battery strategy beyond high-nickel NCM, stepping up investment in sodium-ion, all-solid-state and lower-cost technologies after acknowledging that its focus on high-performance batteries left it exposed to China's rapid expansion in the affordable LFP market.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
Trump-Xi state dinner puts tech titans at the head table, spotlighting Taiwan's quiet supply chain clout

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived at the White House on the evening of September 24 US time to attend a state dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Tuesday 29 September 2026
LG AI Research expands sovereign AI push into Kazakhstan, Middle East
LG AI Research is moving into Kazakhstan and the Middle East to capture demand for sovereign AI in emerging markets. The South Korea-based unit is using its model development and commercialization experience to pursue overseas deals as US and Chinese firms continue to dominate the global AI market.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
South Korean component makers face price cuts as memory costs climb

South Korean electronics component suppliers are under growing pressure as rising memory prices drive chip inflation deeper into the supply chain. Finished-goods makers are asking for price cuts of 10% to 20% starting in the third quarter of 2026, while Chinese rivals have been offering bids that are 20% to 30% lower, according to Chosun Biz.

Tuesday 29 September 2026
AI server MLCC prices rise as Chinese suppliers gain ground in generic parts

Multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) prices for AI servers have continued to climb, while prices for general-purpose components used in consumer appliances have dropped sharply. The split in the market has opened more room for Chinese suppliers in midrange and general-purpose categories as major manufacturers shift capacity toward higher-value products.

Tuesday 29 September 2026
Apple's foldable iPhone Duo faces low yields ahead of October launch
Apple's first foldable handset, the iPhone Duo, is nearing launch in October, but reports from China said production remains constrained by low yields in final assembly, panels, and hinges. Jiemian News reported that, as of September 17, Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, had an assembly yield just above 60%, more than a month before sales were set to begin.
Tuesday 29 September 2026
Posco Future M lands KRW1.1 trillion LFP cathode deal with SK On
Posco Future M signed a large lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials supply contract with SK On for 2027 to 2029, in a deal worth about KRW1.1 trillion (US$810 million). The agreement expands the South Korean materials maker's role in battery supply for energy storage systems (ESS) and electric vehicles.