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Thursday 18 June 2026
Unitree IPO tests China's bet on low-cost humanoid robots
Unitree Robotics is heading toward a Shanghai listing with a pitch drawing attention well beyond China: humanoid robots can be built cheaply enough, and at enough scale, to begin taking on narrow labor tasks.
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Monday 22 June 2026
China bars govt purchases of products from 46 US firms
China has announced restrictions on government procurement of products made by 46 US companies, a move that could affect cross-border business ties and supply chains, with implications beyond China and the United States. The measure applies to public purchasing activities and excludes US-invested firms operating in China, according to the notice.
Monday 22 June 2026
YMTC NAND share rises to 13%, alarming South Korean rivals
China's memory makers are moving from technology catch-up to capital-market expansion, with ChangXin Memory Technologies' (CXMT) parent and Yangtze Memory Technology (YMTC) both preparing initial public offerings (IPOs) to fund future capacity growth and technology upgrades. South Korean industry players are paying particularly close attention to YMTC, which focuses on NAND Flash and is closing in on Korean suppliers across market share, 3D NAND layer stacking, output expansion, and building channels in consumer solid-state drives (SSD).
Monday 22 June 2026
Samsung sees ongoing SoC losses drag down System LSI's 2026 performance
In a rare public admission during an internal briefing, Park Yong-In, president of the System LSI Business of the Device Solutions (DS) Division at Samsung Electronics, expressed concern over losses in the company's system-on-chip (SoC) business. As a result, the overall system LSI business is also expected to post a loss in 2026.
Monday 22 June 2026
Apple's foldable iPhone supply chain reportedly gears up for 2026 launch

Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone appears to be moving closer to reality, with reports from multiple Chinese media outlets suggesting that parts of the supply chain have already begun small-volume shipments ahead of a planned launch next year later this year.

Monday 22 June 2026
China's InP export relief falls short, suppliers race to secure 2027 supply

China began approving a new batch of indium phosphide (InP) substrate exports in late May 2026, but optical communications supply chain sources said the relief remains limited and is unlikely to fully resolve material shortages in the near term.

Monday 22 June 2026
Weekly news roundup: Micron CEO turns visa rejection into US$1 trillion milestone; Taiwan LED makers look beyond lighting
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of June 15-21, 2026:
Monday 22 June 2026
China places 10 US entities on export control list, restricts dual-use exports

According to an announcement published by China's Ministry of Commerce on June 22, China has added 10 US entities to its export control list, prohibiting the export of dual-use items to these companies and banning any organization or individual from transferring China-origin dual-use items to them.

Monday 22 June 2026
Analysis: BYD's robotics ambitions ignite new battleground with startups
As competition intensifies and profitability declines in China's new-energy vehicle (NEV) market, automakers are increasingly turning to humanoid robots in search of a new growth engine. Over the past two years, however, many of these companies have also been key customers of humanoid robotics startups. As automakers begin developing robots of their own, the competition that has defined the NEV market may increasingly spill over into the humanoid robotics sector.
Saturday 20 June 2026
Samsung weighs Boston Dynamics stake as humanoid AI race heats up

Samsung Electronics is reportedly reviewing the possibility of investing in Boston Dynamics, the US robotics company controlled by Hyundai Motor Group.

Friday 19 June 2026
China chip supply chain feels squeeze from AI server MLCCs to 8-bit MCUs
China's semiconductor supply chain is showing fresh signs of pricing strain, with microcontroller unit (MCU) makers and passive component suppliers facing rising costs, tighter capacity, and surging demand from AI servers.
Friday 19 June 2026
Samsung Foundry to make Claros power-management chips for AI data centers

Samsung Electronics' foundry business has signed a strategic manufacturing collaboration with Claros, a US power-management startup, to produce semiconductors designed to cut energy waste inside AI data centers, according to a Claros announcement and a report by ZDNet Korea.

Friday 19 June 2026
Nvidia leads China assisted-driving chip market; Horizon Robotics rises to second
China's assisted-driving chip market is becoming more concentrated, with Nvidia leading in assisted-driving domain controller chip installations and Horizon Robotics emerging as the strongest domestic supplier, according to April 2026 passenger-vehicle data.
Friday 19 June 2026
Interview: Oppstar grows ASIC design ties with Japan, South Korea clientele, plans Taiwan office

Founded in 2014, Oppstar is one of the few Malaysian companies operating at the front end of the semiconductor value chain as an IC design house. The company was established by three founders with extensive experience in the IC design industry: Meng Thai Ng, Hun Wah Cheah, and Chun Chiat Tan. Headquartered in Bayan Lepas, Penang, Oppstar opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2022. From its inception, the company positioned itself as a one-stop IC design service provider, initially focusing on 16nm design nodes.

Thursday 18 June 2026
Japan lasers in on India's Assam state for chip and infrastructure corridor

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to visit Assam in northeastern India in early July 2026. According to Nikkei, more than 50 Japanese companies and business groups, including Suzuki, Itochu and Toyota Tsusho, are expected to accompany the delegation, with market attention focused on cooperation in semiconductors and infrastructure.

Thursday 18 June 2026
BMW opens Neue Klasse reservations early; car business margin forecast unexpectedly cut in half
Although BMW's Neue Klasse BEV lineup is receiving strong market feedback and demand, it is also facing challenges due to weakness in the Chinese auto market and the conflict in the Middle East. It has lowered its financial outlook, cutting its automotive business margin forecast from the original 4-6% range to 1-3%.