DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

ViTrox rides AI demand, expands Taiwan push as Malaysia semiconductor base grows

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 03:05:00 GMT

After several years away from SEMICON Taiwan, Malaysia-based inspection equipment maker ViTrox returned to the show this year and has already confirmed plans to exhibit again next year, signaling a renewed push into a market where AI and advanced packaging are raising the stakes for equipment suppliers.

Sercomm revenue surges past 3Q25 on North America upgrades

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 02:41:01 GMT

Sercomm Corporation reported August revenue of NT$7.044 billion on the 7th, up 45% year-over-year, extending its run of monthly sales above NT$7 billion(US$222.1 million) to a third straight month. The networking and broadband equipment maker also said July and August combined revenue reached NT$15.024 billion, already exceeding the NT$14.75 billion it booked in the third quarter of 2025.

Taiwan panel capacity shifts push TV brands to stock up as LCD price declines slow

Sherri Wang — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 02:33:14 GMT

The global LCD TV panel market is gradually moving toward supply-demand balance as activity recovers across the supply chain, with price declines expected to ease in September. The improvement reflects a pickup in third-quarter demand, along with market expectations that Chinese panel makers could cut production around China's National Day holiday in early October.

Analysis: Imec's EUV edge raises question over how far Taiwan should replicate research fab model

Scarlett Yu — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 02:27:44 GMT

If Taiwan's government is determined enough, finding funding and land for the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) or the National Institutes of Applied Research (NIAR) is not necessarily the hardest part. The more difficult question comes later: who will shoulder the enormous and recurring cost of keeping advanced semiconductor research infrastructure running?

Chinese smartphone price hikes squeeze Southeast Asia: shipments fall 23%, low-end demand retreats

Levi Li — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 02:27:32 GMT

Rising smartphone prices are spreading beyond China, with Southeast Asia already showing the strain from rising handset costs and weaker replacement demand.

Huawei Mate XT 2 debuts Kirin 9050 Pro at unchanged price

AI bot — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 02:16:41 GMT

Huawei held a product launch event on the afternoon of September 7, with the tri-fold Mate XT 2 and its Kirin 9050 Pro chip in the spotlight. The company also rolled out a HarmonyOS 7 upgrade.

Huawei Kirin 9050 Pro puts LogicFolding to the test with 55% density gain, 66% lower NPU power

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 02:05:02 GMT

Huawei's Kirin 9050 Pro is the first commercial test of its Tau Scaling Law, with the company claiming a 55% increase in transistor density at the same process node while cutting NPU, GPU and CPU performance-core power by 66%, 58% and 41%, respectively.

Privacy displays become a premium smartphone battleground as Huawei brings one to a foldable

DIGITIMES — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 02:00:59 GMT

Huawei's Mate XT 2 combines an inward-folding tri-fold design with a built-in hardware privacy display, bringing two concepts already prominent in Samsung's premium smartphones into one device. The overlap reflects a broader shift in foldables toward screen protection, privacy and everyday usability.

Macronix, Winbond, Etron see revenue surge through August as memory price rally continues

Eifeh Strom — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 01:51:22 GMT

Memory manufacturers Macronix International, Etron Technology, and Winbond Electronics all reported surging revenue for the first eight months of 2026. As the memory upcycle continues, all three companies posted strong August revenue growth, with executives noting that demand remains tight.

Adata, Team Group post record August revenue as memory module makers build inventory for 2027

Eifeh Strom — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 01:42:12 GMT

Major Taiwanese memory module manufacturers saw revenue remain at high levels in August 2026, as memory prices continued to rise. Adata Technology and Team Group both posted record-high single-month revenue in August. Industry players believe demand will continue to be strong in the artificial intelligence (AI) market, with prices expected to continue rising in the third quarter. As supply is anticipated to tighten further in 2027, inventory management and market positioning will become critical to operating performance.

TSMC's co-COO left ITRI in 1987 for a startup foundry — ITRI just named him a laureate

Scarlett Yu — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 01:21:15 GMT

TSMC Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer Y.P. Chin was named an Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) Laureate on September 7, marking another milestone in a semiconductor career spanning nearly four decades.

Infineon COO leaves a US fab open, says GlobalFoundries and ESMC already cover it

Charlene Chen — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 01:17:51 GMT

Infineon COO Alexander Gorski said the company is balancing in-house production, outsourcing, and global expansion as supply-chain resilience becomes a key customer requirement. In an exclusive interview with DIGITIMES at SEMICON Taiwan 2026, he also discussed chip shortages and progress at Infineon's new Dresden fab.

Nvidia underwrites its own demand, and that may be harder to copy than its chips

Levi Li — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 01:16:36 GMT

Venture capital firm a16z recently hosted investor Gavin Baker and a16z partner David George for a discussion on Nvidia's competitive position. Baker argued that CEO Jensen Huang has built a formidable moat around a strategy of being "vertically integrated but horizontally open."

SK Hynix weighs Gwangju investment as Yongin buildout continues

DIGITIMES — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:53:20 GMT

SK Hynix is considering accelerating investment in South Korea's planned Gwangju semiconductor cluster so that development proceeds alongside its ongoing Yongin buildout, rather than waiting for Yongin to advance further, according to Dealsite, citing industry sources. The potential overlap is raising a key question for semiconductor equipment suppliers: whether Gwangju will generate additional orders or absorb some spending previously expected for later stages of Yongin.

South Korea's UBATT targets 500 Wh/kg lithium-metal batteries for drone and defense markets

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:52:49 GMT

South Korean battery startup UBATT is targeting aerospace and defense applications such as drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries, aiming at applications that require 400–500 Wh/kg or more and are difficult for conventional lithium-ion batteries to serve.

SST market grows 32% as global players race to secure position

Lily Hess — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:50:38 GMT

As AI server computing power and per-rack power density continue to rise, traditional 54VDC power architectures are hitting bottlenecks such as excessive current, higher copper usage, and greater transmission losses. This is pushing next-generation AI data center power designs toward 800V high-voltage direct current (HVDC).

Taiwan and Saxony start building the talent pipeline behind TSMC's German fab

Charlene Chen — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:50:17 GMT

TSMC's investment in a fab in Germany's Free State of Saxony has drawn close attention from across Europe. Eva Ins Obergfell, Rector of Leipzig University, one of Germany's leading universities, recently visited Taiwan and toured National Taiwan University and National Tsing Hua University, among others, to explore ideas for research cooperation. Experts said Taiwan and Germany had opportunities to build long-term partnerships in quantum sensing technology, semiconductor materials processes and cross-border biomedical research.

Acer Asia units post double-digit growth on strong AI orders

Lily Hess — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:49:15 GMT

Acer's Asia operations posted double-digit revenue growth at three subsidiaries in the first half of 2026, led by Altos Computing, Acerpure, and Highpoint Service Network. Altos is seeing particularly strong demand for AI servers, prompting Acer's president of Pan-Asia Pacific operations Andrew Hou to say the unit will need to double its headcount to meet customer demand.

BYD weighs US$1B car-carrier order to support surging EV exports

Levi Li — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:48:53 GMT

BYD is extending its global expansion beyond factories and sales networks into ocean transport, building greater control over the car-carrier capacity needed to support rapidly rising overseas electric vehicle exports.

FitTech shifts from LED to optical communications, eyes InP relief

Charlene Chen — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:48:05 GMT

FitTech is pivoting away from the crowded LED market into optical communications, with outsourced chip testing and sorting orders set to rise month by month from the third quarter as a shortage of indium phosphide (InP) materials that had constrained shipments in the first half of 2026 gradually eases. The company said it has already secured outsourced orders from at least two major customers, while downstream customers have recently raised their 2027 order outlook.

US-China space race expands from Moon landings to LEO satellite constellations and orbital computing

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:47:31 GMT

The US-China space race is broadening beyond rocket launches and crewed lunar missions into a growing array of strategic arenas, including lunar resources, low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, space computing and military capabilities in orbit.

Accton sets August revenue record as AI networking demand surges

DIGITIMES — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:46:38 GMT

Accton Technology reported on September 7 that August consolidated revenue reached NT$40.873 billion, a record high and the first time the network equipment maker has exceeded NT$40 billion in monthly sales. The result was up 59.42% from the same period in 2025, while cumulative consolidated revenue through the end of August climbed to NT$246.004 billion, also a record for that period.

India's IndieSemiC targets 3 to 5 million Wi-Fi camera modules as local CCTV rules spur demand

Prasanth Aby Thomas — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:44:56 GMT

Indian chip design company IndieSemiC is targeting shipments of 3 to 5 million locally made Wi-Fi modules in FY27-28, betting that security requirements for CCTV equipment will encourage camera makers to replace imported connectivity modules with products sourced in India.

Interview: California companies highlight synergy between the state and Taiwan

DIGITIMES — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:44:15 GMT

This year's SEMICON Taiwan saw companies worldwide flock to Taipei to learn new industry developments and score potential business opportunities. Many came from elsewhere in Asia, but some came from as far as California, where business leaders highlighted the complementary relationship between the state's research and start-up ecosystem and Taiwan's manufacturing capabilities.

Black Sesame, Horizon Robotics unveil China's smart driving chip race

Yunnie Cheng — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:43:33 GMT

China's intelligent driving market continues to surge, with Black Sesame Technologies and Horizon Robotics both reporting solid top-line revenue growth for the first half of 2026. Highlighting the rapid commercialization curve, Horizon Robotics announced on September 3 that cumulative mass production of its Journey series smart driving processors surpassed 15 million units—signaling that competition in China's automotive IC sector is shifting from raw computing battles to large-scale mass deployment and market penetration.

Innolux, AUO take display technology into AI chips with FOPLP, glass substrates, Micro LED CPO

Levi Li — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:42:23 GMT

AI demand is accelerating advanced packaging and high-speed optical interconnect development, pushing Taiwan display makers Innolux and AUO deeper into the semiconductor supply chain.

LG bets on in-cabin AI agents as South Korea races to catch China in autonomous driving

Sherri Wang — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:41:01 GMT

Rapid advances in China's autonomous-driving technology are increasing pressure on South Korea's auto industry to catch up, and LG Electronics is responding by expanding its push from in-cabin AI experiences and AI agents to an AI-SDV platform as it seeks a foothold in the emerging AI-defined vehicle (AIDV) market.

AI demand gives Aspeed visibility into 2027 as supply constraints ease

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:39:25 GMT

Aspeed chairman Chris Lin said the company's order visibility has now extended into 2027, with 2027 backlog already exceeding expected full-year 2026 revenue for the first time. He added that easing supply-chain bottlenecks should support sequential growth in the second half of 2026 and stronger pricing from the fourth quarter onward.

Shield AI, AeroVironment deepen ties with Taiwan drone supply chain

Rodney Chan — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:38:57 GMT

US drone tech companies Shield AI and AeroVironment have strengthened ties with Taiwan's defense sector, and they have opened offices in Taiwan in recent years. At Semicon Taiwan 2026, both companies updated their cooperation plans and outlook for the island's drone industry.

Analysis: Taiwan manufacturers face a deeper labor squeeze as AI boom pulls workers away

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:38:24 GMT

Taiwan's traditional manufacturers are warning that the island's growth story is widening a long-running labor gap, as semiconductor and AI server demand lifts the economy even as factories struggle to hire and retain skilled workers. In the auto supply chain, where smart vehicle electronics are increasingly essential, companies say the workforce shortage is becoming a structural risk.

Acer India tablet deal points to deeper push in Asia-Pacific

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:37:31 GMT

Acer has landed a nearly US$200 million tablet order from the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, underscoring the company's growing public-sector business in one of its fastest-expanding markets. Acer Pan-Asia Pacific operations president Andrew Hou said India revenue exceeded US$700 million in 2025 and could top US$800 million in 2026 as the company moves closer to a US$1 billion revenue target.

Taiwan sets out 2027 plan to reinforce AI, chip leadership

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 23:37:07 GMT

Taiwan plans to deepen its role in global technology supply chains as demand for AI chips, advanced packaging, and memory tightens worldwide. A new policy agenda aims to bolster semiconductor output, expand AI deployment, and strengthen resilience in industries that affect manufacturers, investors, and consumers across regions.

SK Hynix reportedly ends LG eSSD talks as ASICLAND deal expands

DIGITIMES — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 09:51:01 GMT

SK Hynix reportedly ended talks with LG Electronics over outsourcing part of the backend design for a next-generation enterprise SSD (eSSD) controller, but the memory maker told DIGITIMES that it had not discussed commissioning eSSD controller design work.

How UC Santa Cruz's Silicon Valley lab is reverse-engineering the human brain to solve AI's chip power crisis

DIGITIMES — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 09:08:28 GMT

As the global race for artificial intelligence (AI) consumes vast oceans of electricity and pushes modern utility grids to the brink, a team of California researchers is looking to biological neuroscience to build an entirely new class of energy-efficient microelectronics. Their objective is straightforward but radical: reverse-engineer the human brain to solve the semiconductor industry's looming power and thermal bottlenecks.

Silicon Valley goes physical: how San Jose is building an energy-rich, tariff-mitigated capital for physical AI

DIGITIMES — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 09:04:22 GMT

As the artificial intelligence revolution outgrows the digital cloud and demands physical form, a major structural transition is quietly reshaping Silicon Valley. While the region has long been celebrated as the world's epicenter for software and venture capital, the massive compute, cooling, and mechanical requirements of robotics and physical AI are pulling tech's center of gravity back to heavy industrial hardware.