DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Gritek to take full control of 12-inch silicon wafer venture in major restructuring

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:55:00 GMT

Gritek plans to strengthen its position in China's large-diameter silicon wafer market by acquiring the remaining stakes in two semiconductor materials companies, according to a company announcement.

iPhone Duo's price opens room for Android rivals

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:38:20 GMT

Apple's new iPhone 18 series and first foldable, the iPhone Duo, could reshape smartphone demand worldwide by pushing some buyers toward Android rivals, channel players said. Higher launch prices may expand the premium market, but they could also slow some iPhone sales and intensify competition across midrange and flagship segments.

AI's energy demand ignites global nuclear rush, straining Taiwan's restart

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:32:18 GMT

A worldwide nuclear comeback, fueled by artificial intelligence data centers and semiconductor demand, is tightening supply chains and labor markets just as Taiwan considers restarting idle reactors.

Foldable smartphone panel shipments to grow 23% in 2026

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:29:03 GMT

Following the launch of Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, combined sales momentum from Samsung Electronics, Huawei Technologies, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Motorola is expected to drive global foldable smartphone shipments above 27 million units in 2026.

Lab self-investigations show AI agents improvising past their own guardrails

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:22:26 GMT

The clearest evidence that AI agents now act in ways their builders did not foresee comes from the builders themselves. Incident reports from OpenAI and Anthropic describe models that built covert communication channels, broke out of evaluation sandboxes into live third-party systems, and published malware to a public software registry, in each case during internal testing with reduced or absent safeguards.

China's OLED expansion narrows South Korea's auto, IT panel lead

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:01:34 GMT

China's OLED supply push is gathering pace, with BOE Technology Group (BOE), TCL China Star Optoelectronic Technology and Visionox rapidly expanding production and closing in on South Korean rivals. South Korean companies still hold an edge in OLED for smartphones and TVs, but their room to grow in IT devices and automotive OLEDs is likely to narrow.

Google TPU pays back investment in 1 year, creating upside for MediaTek, Broadcom ASIC revenues

Yunnie Cheng — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:01:16 GMT

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian recently revealed that Google's overall payback period for AI server investments is less than two years, with in-house silicon recovering its costs in half that time. This translates to a payback period of less than one year for servers using Google's in-house silicon, including its tensor processing units (TPUs). Industry observers note this rapid capital return gives application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design service partners, such as MediaTek and Broadcom, substantial room for upward revenue revisions as Google doubles down on its TPU strategy.

India semiconductor deals hit a multi-year high ahead of SEMICON India 2026

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:56:20 GMT

India's semiconductor companies have raised nearly half of their all-time equity funding since the start of 2025, and deal activity this year is already at a multi-year high. The figures arrive days before SEMICON India 2026, the country's flagship semiconductor conference, opens in New Delhi on September 17.

Hua Hong Grace completes Huali Micoelectronics acquisition, state parent raises stake

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:56:06 GMT

Hua Hong Grace (HHGrace) has completed the share issuance for its acquisition of a 97.4988% stake in Huali Microelectronics (HLMC), strengthening the company's position in China's semiconductor foundry market.

CPO nears mass production — next battle about interfaces, yield and maintenance

Levi Li — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:50:09 GMT

As AI computing bandwidth keeps rising, optical interconnect architectures are moving beyond pluggable optical modules toward near-packaged optics (NPO) and co-packaged optics (CPO). But large-scale deployment will depend on more than optical-engine performance. Precision alignment, serviceability, manufacturing yield, and whether the supply chains for light sources, packaging, testing, and materials can advance in step are becoming equally critical.

US finalizes anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on solar imports from India, Indonesia, and Laos

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:43:18 GMT

The US Commerce Department on September 11 issued final affirmative determinations in its anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules from India, Indonesia, and Laos, setting dumping margins of up to 123.04% and subsidy rates as high as 173.70%, according to the department's International Trade Administration.

AI server tracker: Taiwan ASIC design houses diverge as AI projects enter different revenue cycles

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:22:49 GMT

Taiwan's ASIC design-service suppliers all posted year-over-year revenue growth in August 2026, but the underlying figures point to sharply different stages of the custom-silicon cycle.

AI server tracker: Taiwan testing suppliers accelerate as AI chip complexity raises interface demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:22:42 GMT

Taiwan's semiconductor testing supply chain continued to ride strong AI and high-performance computing (HPC) demand in August 2026, with all four major suppliers posting year-over-year revenue growth.

The case for an AI speed limit collapsed in a weekend

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:10:19 GMT

The AI industry's proposal to slow frontier model development ran into geopolitics over the weekend. US President Donald Trump rejected a slowdown, saying America must stay ahead of China, while Chinese President Xi Jinping used the BRICS summit in New Delhi to pitch a China-led open-source AI network for developing economies. The executive who proposed pacing concedes that a verifiable US-China limit may not be achievable.

AI labs ask to be slowed, Congress stirs, and Nvidia calls the alarm a sales pitch

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:07:15 GMT

The strongest case for restraining frontier AI development is now coming from the companies building it, and one of the sharpest rebuttals is from the supplier that sells them the chips. That split is the political problem US lawmakers inherit: the labs want a coordinated slowdown and independent oversight they say they cannot arrange alone, while Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang has suggested the alarm over AI-driven cyber risk doubles as a sales pitch.

India's chip show nearly doubles in two years, with suppliers leading the build-out

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:47:29 GMT

The exhibitor list for Semicon India 2026 suggests the country's semiconductor push has moved past announcements and into procurement. The show has drawn 535 exhibiting companies, up 52% from 351 in 2025 and 97% from 271 in 2024. Moreover, the sharpest growth is not in chipmakers, but in areas that fabs purchase only once construction is real: cleanroom and utility contractors, specialty gas and chemical suppliers, and metrology and inspection tool vendors.

CoreIntelligence Holdings posts 6% revenue growth in first 8 months as optical ASP soars and energy-saving products grow

Yunnie Cheng — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:44:33 GMT

CoreIntelligence Holdings (CiHC) reported unaudited consolidated revenue of NT$3.429 billion (approx. US$108.6 million) for August 2026, representing a slight 3% month-over-month decline from NT$3.535 billion (US$112.1 million) in July, but a 3% year-over-year increase compared to NT$3.342 billion (US$105.8 million) in 2025. Cumulative consolidated revenue for the first eight months of 2026 reached NT$26.36 billion (US$834.8 million), up 6% from NT$24.819 billion (US$786 million) recorded during the same period in 2025.

Weekly news roundup: HBM4 strain, Intel price hikes and the next AI infrastructure buildout

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:40:44 GMT

AI demand remained the dominant force across semiconductors, memory, foundry and data-center infrastructure this week. Intel raised CPU prices while Qualcomm and MediaTek targeted openings in IPC and IoT; memory inventories tightened as HBM4 and server demand strained DRAM and NAND supply; and Micron, Taiwan Mobile, Samsung Electronics, ASML, Synopsys and Eaton advanced plans tied to AI, advanced-node manufacturing and higher-density data centers. Below are the most-read DIGITIMES stories from September 7–13, 2026.

Blokcert launches Gefjon AI to help Taiwan charging operators improve profitability as EV demand rebounds

Willis Ke — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:36:21 GMT

Taiwan's EV market is staging a strong recovery in 2026, boosting vehicle registrations and charging demand, but operators remain under pressure from high capital costs and thin returns. Against that backdrop, charging software provider Blokcert Technology on September 9 unveiled Gefjon AI, billed as Taiwan's first operational decision-making brain designed specifically for charging sites, with the goal of helping operators turn charging infrastructure into more manageable and profitable energy assets.

Hiroca revenue jumps 35% as auto summer slowdown fades

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:33:10 GMT

Hiroca reported August consolidated revenue of NT$503 million (approx. US$16.0 million), up 35.81% from a month earlier and 10.19% from a year earlier. Cumulative consolidated revenue for January–August 2026 reached NT$3.4 billion, slightly up 0.25% from the same period in 2025.

Lite-On revenue rises in August on cloud power demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:32:52 GMT

Lite-On Technology posted NT$19.6 billion (approx. US$622.1 million) in consolidated revenue in August 2026, up 3% month-over-month and 25% year-over-year, as strong demand continued for AI and cloud computing high-end server power supplies, high-efficiency battery backup units (BBUs), and optoelectronic semiconductors. Revenue for the first eight months reached NT$134.7 billion, up 27% year-over-year.

Aurotek posts record August revenue on semiconductor, robot shipments

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:32:13 GMT

Taiwanese robotics component maker Aurotek attributed its strong revenue growth in August 2026 to continued robust customer pull-ins for its automation subsystem equipment in the semiconductor, high-end artificial intelligence (AI) server, and electronics manufacturing industries. The company also highlighted the outlook for robot shipments.

Renesas readies second price hike amid stronger power-chip demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:31:33 GMT

Renesas Electronics is reportedly preparing a second product price increase this year, with new pricing set to take effect January 1, 2027, as rising manufacturing costs coincide with stronger demand for power semiconductors used in data centers and other high-growth applications.

India roundup: India says it cannot build electronics without China

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:31:07 GMT

India is accelerating its semiconductor and electronics ambitions, courting Taiwan, easing China restrictions, expanding local manufacturing and chip infrastructure, while global technology companies deepen investment despite rising costs and regulatory risks.

Image Match Design wins exclusive fingerprint module role in African ID project

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:30:40 GMT

Image Match Design secured an exclusive role in a national identity enrollment and collection system project for a major African country, according to the company. The biometric IC design firm said it will supply fingerprint collection and recognition equipment through a systems integrator, marking a move into a high-barrier international government market.

AI agents drive token use 300-600x, Dell Taiwan says

Charlene Chen — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:30:15 GMT

Dell Taiwan said the shift from generative AI to agentic AI is pushing token usage up by hundreds of times, sharply lifting costs and accelerating demand for on-premises AI computing as enterprises move faster toward hybrid cloud. General manager Terence Liao made the remarks at the company's annual technology event, Dell Technologies Forum 2026, on September 10.

Shihlin Electric eyes orders through 2029 as T4 plant starts in 2027

DIGITIMES — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:29:47 GMT

Shihlin Electric is bullish on continued growth in heavy electrical equipment and energy-related businesses as demand rises for Taiwan Power grid reinforcement, energy transition projects, and AI data center (AIDC) build-outs. The company said its planned T4 plant is scheduled to start production in September 2027, while orders on hand have already topped NT$60 billion (approx. US$1.9 billion) and are extending into 2030.

China's robot champions can run; now they have to prove they can earn

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:56 GMT

China's humanoid robot boom is entering a harder phase. After years of headline-grabbing demonstrations and heavy private funding, companies are being pressed to prove something less theatrical but more consequential: that robots can perform reliable work, generate recurring revenue, and justify their valuations.

AI, 5G upgrades lift Taiwan's top three telecoms in August

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:44 GMT

Strong demand for AI and AI data centers, along with a wave of enterprise information and communications technology (ICT) projects moving into delivery, helped Taiwan's top three telecom operators extend growth in August 2026. Chunghwa Telecom posted record August revenue, operating profit, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), and earnings per share (EPS); Taiwan Mobile remained the telecom trio's cumulative EPS leader; and FarEasTone set monthly highs in revenue, EBITDA, and net profit.

Column: What is SLAM? The first step in Physical AI

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:30 GMT

We previously discussed how automation removes environmental uncertainty, while autonomy requires systems to operate in complex settings. The biggest difference is that autonomous robots must enter unstructured environments and get work done, knowing where they are, what surrounds them, and how to move safely and efficiently while carrying out tasks.

China auto exports hold above 1 million as new energy shipments surge

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:19 GMT

China's auto exports stayed above 1 million units for a third straight month in August 2026, reaching 1.01 million vehicles, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The increase of 65.3% from a year earlier came as weaker domestic demand pressured the home market and exports became a larger growth driver for Chinese automakers.

AI server exports to US slow; electronics parts jump 1.5 times in August

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:23:08 GMT

Taiwan's Ministry of Finance on September 9 said electronic parts exports reached US$32.22 billion in August 2026, a record monthly high, rising US$11.83 billion, or 58%, from the same month in 2025. Integrated circuits rose US$11.55 billion, up 60%, while printed circuit boards increased US$140 million, up nearly 30%.

AI server tracker: Taiwan optics race beyond 1.6T

DIGITIMES — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:22:57 GMT

Taiwan's optical communications supply chain is entering a more consequential phase of the AI infrastructure cycle. Demand is broadening beyond conventional pluggable transceivers toward continuous-wave (CW) lasers, fiber array units (FAUs), external laser sources and co-packaged optics (CPO), while transmission speeds advance from 800G and 1.6T toward 3.2T and beyond.

Delays trim CAEC August sales, but UPS demand outlook stays firm

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:21:37 GMT

Changs Ascending Enterprise (CAEC) said some shipments of lithium iron phosphate battery systems used in semiconductor uninterruptible power supply equipment were delayed after customers adjusted plant expansion schedules, and heavy rain in southern Taiwan slowed delivery and acceptance. August 2026 revenue fell from July, but still ranked as the second-highest August on record.

Taiwan's BTL builds new plant for high-power AI server testing, eyeing 4Q27 launch

Yunnie Cheng — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:21:09 GMT

Electronic testing and certification provider BTL Inc. has kicked off construction plans for Guishan Plant 3. The expansion targets high-power testing capacity for AI server systems, power delivery infrastructure, liquid-cooling equipment, and related peripherals, positioning the company to meet next-generation AI market demand. BTL expects the facility to begin accepting client orders and contributing to top-line revenue in the fourth quarter of 2027.