DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Taiwan just built its own robot dog — its first mission: fighting fires

Rodney Chan — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

It walks, it climbs, it reads gauges — and it's 100% homegrown. Taiwan's first domestically developed quadruped robot dog platform officially debuted on July 8, after the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) spent more than a year working with local academia and industry to complete two prototype models.

TSMC, ASML, and Imec target 2D chip mass production in Taiwan within five years

Willis Ke — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 19:49:00 GMT

ASML, Imec and TSMC are collaborating in southern Taiwan to develop manufacturing equipment for two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials, marking a significant step toward commercializing technologies widely viewed as essential for extending Moore's Law beyond the limits of conventional silicon scaling.

Kioxia, SanDisk ship BiCS10 samples as NAND comeback takes shape

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 19:48:00 GMT

Kioxia and SanDisk have begun shipping samples of 332-layer BiCS10 NAND, giving the Japanese memory maker a concrete technology milestone as CEO Hiroo Ota works to pull the company back toward the top of the NAND industry.

Z.ai widens lead over MiniMax: China's AI model race shifts from scale to staying power

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 18:50:00 GMT

China's AI model race is moving beyond parameter size, benchmark rankings and user buzz. Investors are now asking which companies can turn model spending into durable revenue, pricing power and enterprise workflows.

Realtek 2Q26 revenue driven by networking demand, 3Q26 set to gain from price hikes

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 18:49:00 GMT

Realtek Semiconductor reported June 2026 revenue of NT$12.31 billion (approx. US$383.67 million), down 1.7% from the previous month but up 20.6% from a year earlier. Second-quarter 2026 revenue totaled NT$37.55 billion, rising 3.11% sequentially and 17.68% year-over-year, while first-half 2026 revenue reached NT$73.98 billion, up 10.52% from the same period last year. Both second-quarter and first-half 2026 revenue reached record highs.

Mistral Robotics model puts France's industrial AI push in focus

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 18:49:00 GMT

Mistral AI has introduced its first robotics navigation model, extending the French AI startup's push into physical AI and industrial automation.

LG Innotek expands Vietnam footprint with new IC substrate plant

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 18:48:00 GMT

LG Innotek is moving ahead with a new semiconductor substrate manufacturing facility in Vietnam, marking its first overseas production base for IC substrates as the company seeks to expand capacity for advanced packaging products used in AI servers and high-end mobile devices.

Former chip designer turned VC delivers reality check on AI, CPO hype

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 18:47:00 GMT

A veteran chip engineer turned venture capitalist used a panel at Taipei's Asia VC Summit on Wednesday to challenge two of the semiconductor industry's most fashionable narratives: that AI will solve chip design, and that co-packaged optics (CPO) is ready for prime time.

Out of the shadows, India's Northeast stakes its claim in electronics

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 18:47:00 GMT

For most of its modern history, India's Northeast — the eight states anchored by Assam — has sat at the margins of the country's industrial economy. That is beginning to change, as a mix of federal industrial incentives, a flagship semiconductor packaging plant in Assam, and deepening ties with Japan give the region a modest but real foothold in India's electronics ambitions.

Micron commits $250 billion to US chip buildout as New York fab breaks ground ahead of schedule

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 14:53:06 GMT

Micron Technology said July 9 it is raising its planned US fab and technology investment to more than $250 billion through 2035, citing surging demand for memory driven by AI. The company said the increase supports its long-term goal of producing 40% of its DRAM output domestically.

Micron to invest up to $3 billion in US semiconductor supply chain, anchored by GlobalWafers wafer deal

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 14:39:11 GMT

Micron Technology said July 9 it plans to invest up to $3 billion to strengthen the US semiconductor supply chain, with the bulk of the announcement centered on a new financing and supply arrangement with Taiwan's GlobalWafers.

Phison 1H26 revenue tops NT$100B as AI orders extend to 1H27

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 09:58:49 GMT

Phison Electronics, a NAND controller maker, said first-half consolidated revenue in 2026 surpassed NT$100 billion (US$3.1 billion) for the first time. CEO Khein-Seng Pua said June mobile controller shipments rose 47% from a year earlier even as global smartphone shipments are expected to decline, while PCIe SSD boot drive shipments jumped 5,600% year-over-year and some AI project orders now extend visibility into first half 2027.

Release of GPT-Live and Grok 4.5 shows boundaries of the new AI frontier

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 09:23:30 GMT

OpenAI and SpaceX have released new models laden with features that show the direction of frontier AI model development, including voice interaction, agentic workloads, coding capabilities, and token efficiency. Their new products arrive at a time of intense competition among model makers, and soon after, SpaceX filed for its record-breaking IPO and OpenAI began its own public listing process.

Delta Electronics 1H revenue up 41% as AI power, cooling demand accelerates

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 09:14:07 GMT

Delta Electronics posted stronger June 2026 sales as demand for AI servers, power systems and infrastructure products continued to climb. The Taiwanese electronics supplier reported consolidated revenue of NT$65.603 billion in June, up 11.3% from May and 55.4% from a year earlier, while first-half 2026 revenue reached NT$342.609 billion, up 41% year on year.

HIWIN and Hiwin Mikrosystem post record June sales on semiconductor and robotics demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 09:10:19 GMT

HIWIN and its subsidiary Hiwin Mikrosystem posted record June 2026 revenue as demand from semiconductors, industrial automation and robotics stayed strong. The Taiwan-based motion control supplier said the gains lifted both its core transmission components business and its broader robotics outlook.

CXMT seeks US$4.1bn in China's biggest 2026 IPO for DDR5, HBM

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:43:12 GMT

CXMT has launched a CNY29.5 billion (approx. US$4.1 billion) STAR Market IPO, giving China's top DRAM maker fresh capital to upgrade 17nm production, expand DDR5, and develop HBM for AI servers and high-performance computing.

Notebook shipment update, May 2026

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:39:31 GMT

In May 2026, combined shipments from the top five notebook brands increased by approximately 8% month-over-month. However, shipments by brand vendors were still down about 6% compared with May 2025.

Tesla skips the AIDV talk—it already owns SDVs

Lily Hess — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 08:27:16 GMT

AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs) are built on software-defined vehicles (SDVs), and Tesla is arguably the world's most representative company at integrating and commercializing these technologies. Yet the market rarely hears Tesla emphasize or explain the AIDV concept.

CXMT IPO leaves HBM off the funding list, tempering China AI memory hype

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 07:31:09 GMT

CXMT's STAR Market IPO suggests China's largest DRAM maker is prioritizing commodity memory over an aggressive near-term push into high-bandwidth memory (HBM). This eases concerns that Chinese suppliers are about to challenge the dominance of Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron in AI memory.

Power-Win sees stronger momentum as battery recycling market expands

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 07:23:03 GMT

Taiwan's largest waste battery processor, Power-Win Technology, reported stronger first-half momentum as rising waste battery volumes, higher recycled-material prices, and more electric-vehicle (EV) recycling projects lifted demand. The trend underscores a broader opportunity for investors and industries tied to the global shift toward electrification and energy storage.

Chinese Rockchip expects 1H26 revenue and profit to rise on AIoT demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 07:02:35 GMT

Rockchip Electronics has forecast strong growth in revenue and profit for the first half of 2026, citing sustained demand for its AIoT chip platforms despite supply chain pressures affecting the broader electronics industry.

Apple's Broadcom deal extension shows wireless independence remains a distant dream

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 07:01:52 GMT

Apple's decision to extend its wireless transmission and RF chip supply agreement with Broadcom through 2031 signals that its shift to fully in-house connectivity is a project measured in years, not quarters. For global consumers, the move suggests Apple will likely continue mixing its own chips with those from outside suppliers to maintain performance and reliability.

Rebellions' IPO plan tests market appetite for inference chips

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 06:33:57 GMT

South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions is preparing for a domestic listing in the first half of 2027, offering a test of whether investor enthusiasm for inference chips can move from private funding rounds into public markets.

GlobalWafers says wafer demand is improving as chip cycle heals

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 05:54:48 GMT

GlobalWafers reported a rebound in second-quarter revenue as semiconductor demand improved across advanced and mature nodes, a sign that recovery trends in the global chip market could matter for manufacturers, cloud suppliers, automakers, and industrial users worldwide. The company said strong AI-related demand and high utilization supported the latest results.

Planet Technology reports June revenue growth as it expands cybersecurity lineup

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 05:49:55 GMT

Planet Technology's latest sales update points to continued demand in networking hardware, cybersecurity, and AI-ready infrastructure, themes with implications for banks, factories, utilities, and transport operators worldwide. The company is also watching the fast-growing low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite market, underscoring how enterprise connectivity and security trends are reshaping global technology investment.

Samsung eyes broader Exynos 2700 use in Galaxy S27

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 05:44:26 GMT

Samsung Electronics is reportedly set to expand use of its in-house mobile application processor, Exynos 2700, across the Galaxy S27 flagship series slated for 2027. Money Today and KBench, citing industry sources, reported that Samsung plans to equip most Galaxy S27 standard, Plus, and Pro models in most markets with Exynos 2700, while using Qualcomm Snapdragon chips for the US market. The top-end Ultra model, however, is still likely to use Snapdragon across the board.

Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics forecasts sharp rise in 1H26 profit

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 05:00:01 GMT

Shanghai Fudan Microelectronics Group said its first-half earnings will rise sharply, reflecting stronger chip demand and a recovery in the sector that may matter to global electronics and industrial supply chains. The company also cited gains from product upgrades and an investment valuation boost.

Wistron and Wiwynn post record-high revenue in 1H26 on strong AI server, networking shipments

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 04:52:43 GMT

Wistron reported June 2026 revenue of NT$321.82 billion (approx. US$10.04 billion), up 10.9% from the previous month and 53.9% from a year earlier, marking the company's second-highest single-month revenue on record, while second-quarter and first-half 2026 revenues both reached record highs.

Inventec expects server shipments to rise quarterly as component shortages loom

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 04:26:33 GMT

Inventec reported June 2026 revenue of NT$102.26 billion (approx. US$3.19 billion), up 23.5% from the previous month and 61.6% from a year earlier, reaching record highs for both the same period and a single month. Second-quarter revenue totaled NT$269.86 billion, also a record for the same period and a single quarter. First-half revenue reached NT$470.17 billion, up 36.83% year-over-year and hitting an all-time high.

Lynas signs long-term partnership with JS Link for Malaysia magnet factory

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 04:19:50 GMT

Lynas Rare Earths has agreed to a long-term partnership with JS Link to develop a rare earth permanent magnet factory in Kuantan, Malaysia, a move that could reshape supply chains for electric vehicles, wind power, and electronics. The deal may help diversify global rare-earth processing, reduce dependence on China, and boost regional manufacturing capacity.

Memory costs slash low-end phone output and pressure PA shipments

Lily Hess — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 04:12:12 GMT

The 2026 smartphone market is facing a dark outlook as memory prices rise and shortages tighten supply, weighing on low- and mid-range handsets and hitting power amplifier (PA) shipments. Supply-chain companies said weaker gross margins are prompting brand owners to cut production and delay new model launches, while consumer caution is also dragging on demand.

SK Hynix targets AI infrastructure role with Nasdaq ADR listing

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 04:10:45 GMT

SK Group chairman Tae-Won Chey is reportedly set to travel to the US for SK Hynix's American depositary receipt (ADR) listing on Nasdaq, where he will personally attend the celebration in New York. The move is being seen as more than a capital market event, as it marks an important moment in SK Hynix's effort to reposition itself from a traditional memory maker into a core company in AI infrastructure.

Server ODMs race to expand globally as parts shortages bite

Lily Hess — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 04:10:09 GMT

AI server orders are flooding in, and original design manufacturers (ODMs) are racing to expand factories across the US and Asia to keep up. From California and Texas to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Taiwan, expansion projects are now visible across the industry.

AI demand pushes TSMC, Samsung to raise foundry prices — Rapidus aims to undercut 2nm

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 04:06:55 GMT

Rising demand for AI chips is changing how foundries set prices, giving TSMC and Samsung Electronics more leverage while forcing new entrants such as Rapidus to compete carefully on cost.

Samsung Display reportedly scraps cheaper Apple XR panel as focus turns to AI smart glasses

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Jul 2026 03:59:25 GMT

The quiet death of a display program says more about where Apple is heading than any product launch: the company's ambition to sell an affordable, lightweight successor to the Vision Pro is dissolving into the supply chain, as a key panel effort is shelved and Apple's mixed-reality talent migrates toward AI-powered smart glasses.