DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

US-China trade truce gains breathing room as BIS extends 50% Affiliates Rule suspension into 2027

Levi Li — Sat, 7 Nov 2026 12:42:45 GMT

The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has extended the suspension of its 50% Affiliates Rule until January 10, 2027, from the previous November 9, 2026 deadline.

WT Microelectronics Chairman says AI growth holds as auto, industrial markets recover

Charlene Chen — Sat, 7 Nov 2026 12:42:28 GMT

WT Microelectronics chairman Eric Cheng said November 5, 2026, that the long-term AI growth trend remains intact, while the automotive and industrial markets have both passed their cyclical troughs. Following its acquisition of Future, WT Microelectronics has entered the European and North American AI data center supply chains for the first time, bringing its global integration synergies into the harvesting phase.

Quantum computing company IonQ raises 2026 revenue forecast above US$500 million on commercial growth

DIGITIMES — Sat, 7 Nov 2026 12:42:15 GMT

IonQ raised its 2026 revenue forecast to US$505 million-US$515 million after reporting record third-quarter revenue of US$173.8 million, as its quantum computing business expanded across data centers, defense programs, and enterprise deployments. The results marked a 336% year-over-year increase and reflected the company’s shift from laboratory research toward commercial quantum applications in the US and global markets.

Global AI memory crunch drives Taiwan to launch advanced memory initiative

Yunnie Cheng — Sat, 7 Nov 2026 12:42:00 GMT

The boom in AI demand has triggered a global memory crunch, creating persistent supply shortages and price hikes. The market is currently dominated by Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology. While China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has expanded its mass-production capabilities rapidly, US export controls and cybersecurity concerns continue to prevent it from competing directly in the US against American and South Korean rivals.

Solidigm eyes US NAND fab as funding questions linger

Sherri Wang — Sat, 7 Nov 2026 12:41:41 GMT

Solidigm, a subsidiary of SK Hynix, is considering building a NAND flash wafer fab in the US. Funding and the investment timeline have yet to be settled, but DIGITIMES Intelligence believes the project is highly likely to move forward, given AI-driven storage demand and the prospect of US government support.

US Navy seeks fuel-powered or hybrid drone for Marine Corps resupply

DIGITIMES — Sat, 7 Nov 2026 12:41:17 GMT

The US Navy is seeking a second-generation tactical resupply drone for the Marine Corps, requiring a fuel-powered or hybrid aircraft to carry 100 pounds (about 45 kilograms) of cargo for 40 nautical miles (about 74 kilometers) and return without refueling. Flight demonstrations are scheduled from January 25 to February 5, 2027, in Huntsville, Alabama, with applications due by November 30, 2026.

Samsung reportedly sells 300 chipmaking tools to DB Group

DIGITIMES — Sat, 7 Nov 2026 12:40:59 GMT

Samsung Electronics has reportedly agreed to sell approximately 300 semiconductor manufacturing tools from its shuttered 8-inch S7 foundry in Giheung to South Korea's DB Group, as DB HiTek faces tight production capacity and Samsung prepares to withdraw from the 8-inch foundry business.

Interview: Infineon's first RISC-V automotive MCU is built for a decade-plus production run

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 18:34:00 GMT

Infineon Technologies is betting on RISC-V scalability with AURIX RC1, its first RISC-V-based microcontroller (MCU) platform, unveiled this week. A single instruction set lets the platform span everything from very small controllers to real-time vehicle computers and robotic motion controllers, so RC1 can serve automotive, robotics, and industrial customers at the same time.

DIGITIMES Insight: Cloud LLMs drive sharp increase in KV cache demand; establishes three key directions for SSD development

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 17:32:00 GMT

DIGITIMES observes that as large language models (LLMs) and agentic AI development become increasingly widespread, it is driving not only significant growth in data center CPU demand but also a sharp surge in key-value cache (KV cache) storage requirements. As DRAM and HBM capacity face severe supply shortages, demand for data center SSDs is rising rapidly.

Analysis: Britain's semiconductor paradox—world-class innovation, but who captures the value?

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

As artificial intelligence reshapes global chipmaking, the UK's strength in design, materials and research is being tested by a longstanding challenge: turning technological breakthroughs into scalable commercial products.

US lawmakers request briefing with Nvidia's Jensen Huang on dealings with Megaspeed executive

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 10:04:49 GMT

Three US lawmakers asked Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to attend a closed-door meeting to discuss his interactions with former Megaspeed executive Alice Huang. The request followed recent reports alleging that Alice Huang had fed intelligence to the Chinese government and had developed a "close relationship" with Jensen Huang.

Commentary: US governors target AI data centers as Taiwan firms await Nvidia outlook

Lily Hess — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Following the 2026 US gubernatorial elections, four states that host major AI data centers—Texas, Ohio, Georgia, and Pennsylvania—could impose tighter controls on new projects after Democratic candidates won or secured reelection, according to Bloomberg. Taiwan suppliers are watching closely as some projects could be paused, while Nvidia's upcoming earnings call is expected to provide clues on AI infrastructure demand.

Moonshot AI reportedly seeking access to Nvidia GPUs through European neoclouds

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:59:43 GMT

Moonshot AI, a leading Chinese model developer, is reportedly seeking remote access to Nvidia chips held in Europe. With sales of advanced US chips to China limited, the move would exploit a loophole in American law that currently does not restrict cloud service providers (CSPs) from selling compute to Chinese companies.

YMTC targets up to 70% Chinese tools for new NAND fab

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:55:28 GMT

China's Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) plans to source as much as 70% of the manufacturing equipment for its fourth NAND flash factory from domestic suppliers, a substantial increase over the share at its existing operations as the company expands into advanced memory for AI and data centers.

Democrats constrain Trump as scarce AI capacity benefits CSPs

Lily Hess — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:55:00 GMT

Democrats swept the US midterm elections, reshaping the global technology and industrial landscape. Their victories in key gubernatorial races, including in Texas and Georgia, have raised concerns about AI infrastructure expansion after some winning candidates explicitly pledged to pause data-center development.

Taiwan Mobile clears Systex tender offer, securing 61.02% ownership

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:47:42 GMT

Taiwan Mobile said its wholly owned subsidiary, Taiwan Cellular, had satisfied all conditions for its tender offer for Systex Corporation shares, clearing the way for the telecom operator to raise its stake in the information-services provider to 61.02%. The announcement was made on November 6 as the companies moved to expand their enterprise technology businesses through cross-selling, artificial intelligence (AI) and regional growth.

Nvidia reportedly buys glass substrate samples from Korea's JNTC

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:04:38 GMT

South Korea's JNTC has joined Nvidia's purchasing supplier list and is supplying paid samples of through-glass via (TGV) substrates, including 2mm-thick glass cores, The Elec reported on November 6.

Vivo and BYD formalize alliance: Why automakers must capitalize on smartphone integration over proprietary apps

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 08:00:40 GMT

Mobile technology giant Vivo and new energy vehicle leader BYD have officially signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement, marking a major milestone in smart mobility.

Wistron ITS reports record third-quarter profit as AI and semiconductor focus accelerates

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 07:55:00 GMT

Wistron ITS reported record gross profit, operating profit, net income, and earnings per share in the third quarter of 2026, as stronger revenue and improved operating efficiency supported continued expansion in AI and semiconductor services. Consolidated revenue reached NT$3.752 billion (approx. US$114.1 million), up 3.5% quarter-over-quarter and 25.6% year-over-year.

US election backlash reshapes AI data center expansion strategies

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 07:45:00 GMT

Companies at the forefront of the AI infrastructure buildout in the US are taking different approaches following the results of this week's midterm elections, which saw a nationwide backlash against data center construction. OpenAI pledged to prevent resource impacts on communities, while Nvidia is turning toward retrofitting small existing facilities.

Huawei, Alibaba among 20 Chinese tech firms confronting AI agent security, algorithmic exploitation

Levi Li — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 07:40:00 GMT

The 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, which opened on November 4, brought AI agent governance into focus, with leading Chinese technology companies seeking common standards to address cybersecurity risks and potential misuse.

Taiwan science park debt tops NT$160 billion as NSTC targets faster repayment

Rodney Chan — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 07:32:39 GMT

Debt held by Taiwan's science park operating funds reached NT$163.54 billion (approx. US$4.97 billion) as of the end of September 2026, while the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) remains confident that rising operating cash flow will accelerate repayment. The government continues to develop and expand science parks to meet industry demand, including new sites and expansions across Taiwan.

Tencent launches Hy4 model to boost visual reasoning, AI safety

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 06:29:00 GMT

Tencent has launched its next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) model, Hy4, adding visual understanding for the first time and limiting cybersecurity training data to reduce the risk of misuse in cyberattacks and harmful biological research.

Qualcomm validates HBC memory architecture, targets AI250 samples in 1H27

Charlene Chen — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 06:00:44 GMT

Qualcomm has completed initial hardware validation of its high-bandwidth compute (HBC) memory architecture, which will form a key part of its next-generation Dragonfly data-center AI accelerators. The company aims to deliver a lower-cost, more energy-efficient alternative to sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) for AI inference workloads requiring high bandwidth and large buffers.

EOI posts record nine-month results, readies Mexico plant for 4Q26 production

Charlene Chen — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 05:51:51 GMT

Excellence Opto (EOI), a major automotive LED light-source supplier, posted record revenue and profit for the first nine months as product-mix optimization, supply-chain efficiencies and high global capacity utilization lifted results. The company is also preparing to begin mass production at its Mexico plant in the fourth quarter and to develop SiPh optical communication module samples by 2027.

Democratic Congress set to challenge Trump on energy, AI, and EVs

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 04:38:20 GMT

Democrats have won control of Congress in the US midterm elections, turning the second half of President Donald Trump's term into a lame-duck period. Trump still holds the veto, however, and overriding it requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Congress is therefore more likely to apply pressure through budgets, investigations, and blocking new legislation than to overturn executive orders outright. For Taiwan's technology sector and supply chain, several fronts are worth watching closely.

LX Semicon posts first quarterly operating loss since IPO

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 04:24:24 GMT

South Korean chip designer LX Semicon posted its first quarterly operating loss since going public in 2010, as weak demand for display chips and pricing pressure from electronics manufacturers weighed on earnings. The company also nominated a new CEO to lead its turnaround efforts.

TV panel makers hold prices firm in November despite fading demand, with supply cuts proving crucial

Levi Li — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 04:01:07 GMT

The global TV panel market entered a period of fragile equilibrium in November 2026 following the end of peak-season inventory replenishment. Although TV brands have become more cautious in procurement, panel manufacturers are adjusting production at advanced-generation LCD fabs to stabilize prices, with rising upstream material costs reinforcing their reluctance to offer discounts.

China's NSIG sees silicon wafer prices rebound, but profitability remains elusive

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:59:06 GMT

National Silicon Industry Group (NSIG) expects to complete its expansion to 1.2 million 300mm silicon wafers per month by the end of 2026, positioning the Chinese semiconductor materials supplier to benefit from recovering wafer prices and growing demand for silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates used in silicon photonics (SiPh).

China's chip equipment makers ride record AI orders into 2027, but new challenges lie ahead

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:46:28 GMT

Chinese semiconductor equipment makers report record orders extending into 2027, with AI-driven investment in advanced memory, logic chips and packaging strengthening demand for domestic manufacturing tools. The expansion is benefiting suppliers across etching, thin-film deposition, cleaning and electroplating, although component delivery constraints could delay the conversion of orders into revenue.

Samsung speeds P5 Fab 2 construction as memory chip shortage looks to last through 2028

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:35:03 GMT

Samsung Electronics plans to begin structural work at its P5 Fab 2 facility in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, in January 2027, accelerating its memory capacity expansion as chip shortages are expected to persist through 2028, DealSite reported.

Taiwan-UK tech ties could support Europe's chip autonomy drive

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:35:00 GMT

Taiwan and the UK are deepening technology ties as supply-chain restructuring and industrial security reshape semiconductor strategy. A new bilateral arrangement covers semiconductors, space, communications, net zero, and AI standards, while cooperation could link British research strengths with Taiwan's manufacturing and testing capabilities across more of the chip lifecycle.

Meta faces political pushback over US data center expansion

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:25:00 GMT

The US midterm election and referendum results show broad public opposition to building more data centers, raising the prospect of tougher local-government reviews for large-scale facilities and prompting hyperscalers to shift some AI infrastructure investment overseas. Meta Platforms President Dina Powell McCormick said the issue had become a key election topic as companies struggle to demonstrate tangible benefits for local communities.

Commentary: YMTC's record NAND profits mask bigger risks behind its reported IPO delay

Levi Li — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:20:30 GMT

YMTC's parent company, CCSH Corporation, had planned to raise CNY33 billion (approx. US$4.93 billion) through an IPO on Shanghai's STAR Market to finance production-line upgrades and next-generation memory research. However, the strategic placement process, originally expected to begin between late October and early November 2026, has reportedly slowed.

V5 Technologies posts 69.7% revenue growth in first 10 months

DIGITIMES — Fri, 6 Nov 2026 03:20:03 GMT

V5 Technologies, a major provider of advanced semiconductor optical inspection and image-processing software, reported consolidated revenue of NT$316 million (US$9.61 million) in October 2026, up 1.67% from September and 32.5% year-on-year. Revenue for the first 10 months surpassed NT$2.6 billion, rising 69.7% from the same period in 2025.