Glass processing manufacturer G-Tech Optoelectronics (GTOC) announced a board resolution to invest an additional NT$1.385 billion (US$42.6 million) in its Vietnam project. The board also approved the purchase of equity in SD Global Vietnam Limited Liability for US$10 million, bringing the total investment in Vietnam to NT$1.709 billion
Malaysia-based EMS provider Nationgate has stated that the US's latest export ban on Nvidia's H20 to China has not impacted its business operations. According to The Edge Malaysia, Nationgate is the only contract manufacturer in Southeast Asia collaborating with Nvidia. The company handles AI data center server businesses
According to Reuters and Yonhap, South Korea's LG Energy Solution announced on April 21, 2025, that it has formally withdrawn from a major US$8.45 billion electric vehicle battery development project in Indonesia, citing shifts in market conditions and the investment climate
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), once shadowed by international concerns over China's overseas expansion, is now entering phase 2.0 amid the intensifying US-China trade war and global supply chain restructuring. Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently made frequent visits to Southeast Asia, with his state visit to Malaysia opening doors for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) to enter the ASEAN market
Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda, an Apple product supplier, is set to increase its investment in Bac Giang, Vietnam. According to The Investor, environmental assessment data from the local Bac Giang government reveals that Sunwoda will inject an additional US$22.5 million into the project, bringing the total capital investment to US$30.2 million
The US set new duties as high as 3,521% on solar imports from four Southeast Asian countries, delivering a win for domestic manufacturers while intensifying headwinds already threatening the country's renewable power development
Tong Hsing Electronic, a major backend services provider for CMOS image sensors (CIS), reported that while first-quarter operations saw a slight year-over-year decline, performance nonetheless exceeded internal expectations. Looking ahead, the company anticipates stronger results in the second quarter, with optical communication products within its RF module segment poised to deliver the most robust growth. Demand for ceramic substrates and high-end CIS is also expected to recover gradually
Taiwan's supply chain firms are navigating a turbulent landscape as the US continues to recalibrate its tariff policies. While recent exemptions for smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices have offered temporary relief to major brands like Apple, wearables such as the Apple Watch and AirPods remain excluded from these lists. This exclusion injects new uncertainty into the market, particularly for suppliers already grappling with razor-thin profit margins
Aeon Motor has expanded internationally by opening a new manufacturing plant in Vietnam despite rising tariff challenges. The company noted that the 10% tariff applies worldwide, except Chinese vehicles, which face tariffs of up to 145%. This gives Aeon Motor a cost advantage in key markets like North America. Coupled with its vertically integrated ODM model, Aeon Motor offers comprehensive vehicle development and production, boosting its appeal to global clients
China and Malaysia struck 31 cooperation agreements during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit, part of his push to deepen ties in Southeast Asia to counter mounting pressure from the US
Aeon Motor has officially entered a new phase in its global expansion strategy, breaking ground on a new smart manufacturing facility in Vietnam. The factory, inaugurated on April 7, marks the company's first major overseas production base and has begun mass production with the launch of the US-spec META 300—an adaptation of the STR300 originally sold in Taiwan. Deliveries to the US market are expected to begin in the second quarter
US President Donald Trump has intensified tariff measures in a bid to clamp down on tariff circumvention through Southeast Asia and other third-party locations. His latest actions, aimed at closing long-standing loopholes, have disrupted global solar supply chains and intensified scrutiny on countries serving as intermediaries for Chinese-made products. The new strategy follows years of limited success from previous trade wars and marks a more aggressive posture on trade enforcement
China and Vietnam signed dozens of cooperation agreements during a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as he aimed to strengthen ties in Southeast Asia on his first overseas trip of the year
Vietnam, historically a significant beneficiary of the "China +1" strategy, finds itself between pressure from the US and political ties with China. It was the first to engage in reciprocal tariff talks with the US, but was also featured in Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent diplomatic visit. The US's planned 46% reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese exports, paused for 90 days by President Donald Trump, raises questions about Vietnam's role as a tech manufacturing hub, as noted by Rest of World
According to Nikkei, Japanese electronic components manufacturer Meiko announced a JPY50 billion (US$348.82 million) investment to establish a new factory in Hoa Binh, northern Vietnam. The facility is slated to begin mass production of advanced electronic substrates for Apple's iPhone by the fiscal year 2026 (April 2026 to March 2027)
