DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Taiwan sees limited chip impact from new US polysilicon tariff

DIGITIMES — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:45:44 GMT

The US signed a presidential proclamation on August 6 (ET) imposing a 15% tariff on polysilicon and related products from all countries, with the new measures set to take effect on December 4, 2026. Taiwan's Executive Yuan said the decision was expected to have limited impact on the island's solar sector and highlighted exemptions available to semiconductor-related firms with US investments.

Himax sees automotive DDI demand recover, set for double-digit growth

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:39:29 GMT

Taiwanese display driver IC (DDI) maker Himax Technologies announced its latest financial results and outlook for the third quarter of 2026, with second-quarter revenue beating expectations, mainly driven by a recovery in demand for automotive display ICs.

Ex-SK Hynix employee gets 18 months for leaking chip secrets to Chinese firms

DIGITIMES — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:39:29 GMT

The Seoul High Court has upheld an 18-month prison sentence for a former SK Hynix employee who leaked trade secrets tied to CMOS image sensor (CIS) technology to Chinese companies while seeking new employment, including with Huawei chip unit HiSilicon.

Adata sees memory uptrend extend into 1H27

Charlene Chen — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:14:57 GMT

Adata posted record-high revenue and profit in the second quarter of 2026 and said memory supply remains tight. The company expects third-quarter operating performance to outperform the second quarter and sees DRAM and NAND flash prices remaining on an upward trend through the fourth quarter and the first half of 2027. In particular, Adata said DRAM supply in 2027 will be even tighter than in 2026.

Wiwynn raises Q2 margin as customer procurement shifts take hold

DIGITIMES — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:00:47 GMT

Wiwynn said changes in how it buys components with customers began to show results in the second quarter of 2026, helping lift gross margin to 9.3%. The server ODM said the shift also supported operating margin of 7.3% and net profit margin of 5.4% as it navigated AI product mix changes and higher component costs.

German EV subsidies lift Chinese automakers in a reshaped market

DIGITIMES — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:00:07 GMT

Germany's car market posted only modest growth in July, but battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids surged as internal combustion engine sales fell sharply. The shift was driven in part by government subsidies, which have boosted demand for new energy vehicles and helped Chinese automakers gain ground in Europe's biggest auto market.

Ennostar keeps full-year profit target as memory price surge boosts RGB TV backlight demand

Willis Ke — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 01:58:53 GMT

Ennostar Holdings is targeting a return to full-year profitability after stronger seasonal demand, asset-disposal gains, and a sharp rise in memory prices boosted second-quarter 2026 earnings and unexpectedly revived demand for RGB direct-view LCD TVs. The company said high memory costs are prompting some TV brands to favor RGB backlight solutions over OLED models because they offer lower system costs while delivering improved picture quality.

Weekly news roundup: AI infrastructure race spans HBM, DRAM, EMIB, optical transceivers and next-gen lithography

DIGITIMES — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 01:42:06 GMT

AI infrastructure, memory supply, advanced packaging and US-China tech restrictions led this week's industry agenda. Below are the most-read DIGITIMES stories from the week of August 3-10, 2026.

From fabs to feedstock: Washington moves electronics supply-chain controls upstream

DIGITIMES — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 01:15:00 GMT

A cluster of measures signed and drafted since late July has shifted the center of gravity in US supply-chain policy away from finished electronics and toward the raw materials that feed them.

Winbond sees tighter memory supply and bigger expansion payoff ahead

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 01:08:14 GMT

Winbond Electronics said rising prices and stronger shipments lifted its operating margin to 48.4% in the second quarter of 2026, and it expects the third-quarter margin to top 50%, setting a new high. The company also plans a major expansion in Kaohsiung as customers seek long-term supply through 2029 and 2030.

Samsung unveils 200MP image sensor as Oppo targets first adoption

DIGITIMES — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:56:07 GMT

Samsung Electronics has launched its next-generation 200-megapixel CMOS image sensor, the ISOCELL HPC, and reports said Oppo is set to be the first smartphone brand to use it. The sensor is the industry's first mobile CIS to support 16-bit RAW output, marking a new specification for flagship phone cameras.

High production keeps TV panel prices falling in August

Lily Hess — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:57:38 GMT

LCD TV panel prices fell across the board in July and have extended their decline in August as high utilization at makers' high-generation lines has kept the supply and demand situation from improving, even as brands stepped up procurement for the traditional third-quarter stocking season. Industry sources said the sector is pursuing a strategy of "trading volume for price," with Black Friday and Single's Day demand failing to stop the slide.

LinkCom sees order visibility into early 2027 as delayed client pull-ins weigh on sales

DIGITIMES — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:57:24 GMT

LinkCom Manufacturing said its July revenue fell from a year earlier because tight supplies of memory, passive components, and other key parts pushed up prices and prompted some networking customers to adjust procurement and delivery schedules for large projects. The magnetic components maker said order intake and deliveries remained steady, and July sales still ranked as the second-highest for the same month in company history.

Russia's Rassvet constellation edges closer to persistent Ukraine coverage

DIGITIMES — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:57:09 GMT

Bureau 1440's Rassvet constellation initiative has been gaining industry-wide attention for emerging as a comparative presence to Russia's Starlink, although it is currently nowhere near Starlink in constellation size or continuous global service.

DeepSeek takes Unitree stake to pair AI models with humanoid robots

DIGITIMES — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:56:27 GMT

DeepSeek has invested CNY140.8 million (approx. US$20.8 million) in Unitree's Shanghai IPO and agreed to jointly develop AI models for humanoid robots, linking one of China's highest-profile AI developers with the country's leading robotics contender at a critical stage of Unitree's public-market debut.

India roundup: Chip push broadens as localization and capacity remain works in progress

DIGITIMES — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:56:12 GMT

India is accelerating its bid to build a broader semiconductor and electronics ecosystem, combining new packaging capacity, longer-term tax incentives and deeper localization with efforts to expand its chip workforce and sovereign AI capabilities. Investments by ASIP, Dixon, Rashi and global technology partners highlight a strategy increasingly focused on higher-value manufacturing.

Kinko July revenue jumps to 12-year high on optical demand

DIGITIMES — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:55:55 GMT

Kinko Optical reported July consolidated revenue of NT$524 million, the highest level in nearly 12 years, as Taiwan's optical industry entered its peak season. The result rose 93.16% from the same month a year earlier and 21.17% from the previous month.

Winmate revenue rises as defense and edge AI orders gain momentum

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:55:44 GMT

Industrial PC maker Winmate said second-quarter revenue rose sharply as demand from defense, marine, and edge AI applications strengthened, a shift that could matter for global industrial supply chains. The company is also seeing firmer order visibility for the second half of the year, while it works to protect margins from higher component costs.

Ability Enterprise July revenue hits decade high on stronger optical module shipments

DIGITIMES — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:55:25 GMT

Ability Enterprise posted July revenue of NT$1.159 billion, up 10.5% from June and 64% from a year earlier, reaching its highest monthly level since December 2016. The Taiwanese optics maker also reported cumulative revenue of NT$6.95 billion for the first seven months of the year, a 53% increase from the same period last year.

Aurotek profit jumps on embodied AI and semiconductor automation demand

DIGITIMES — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:55:09 GMT

Aurotek Corporation reported stronger second-quarter and first-half 2026 results on August 6 as demand rose for embodied AI solutions, semiconductor foundry and advanced packaging equipment, high-end AI server manufacturing equipment, and service robots used in logistics and inspection. The Taiwan-based supplier said the mix of higher-value products lifted profitability across its business lines.

Column: Greening the Gobi Desert—how China built Inner Mongolia's wind power ecosystem

Scarlett Yu — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:54:55 GMT

Driven by global net-zero commitments and China's "dual carbon" goals of peaking carbon emissions before achieving carbon neutrality, Inner Mongolia is rapidly transforming from a traditional resource-based economy into a strategic hub for renewable energy and AI computing infrastructure.

South Korea charges into the humanoid robot race as conglomerates mobilize

Scarlett Yu — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:54:40 GMT

The global humanoid robot race is heating up, with the US and China battling for technological and market leadership, but a third force is rapidly emerging.

China’s new renewable rules drive a surge in hydrogen investment

DIGITIMES — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 23:54:17 GMT

China’s tighter renewable-energy compliance rules have opened the way for green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green methanol to be included in the country’s minimum renewable-energy consumption framework, amid a sharp rise in investment. In the first half of 2026, investment in China’s hydrogen sector increased by more than 160% year-on-year, outpacing the other cited energy infrastructure categories.

Commentary: From free flow to tight control — how tech talent became a national security asset

Charlene Chen — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:19:00 GMT

Tech talent has moved from being simply a hiring priority to a matter of national security. As major economies increasingly tie talent to competitiveness and national security, control over its cross-border movement is tightening. That shift is visible today: Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau is probing 17 companies accused of illegally recruiting tech talent in Taiwan, China is preparing to tighten exit controls on key technical workers, and the US continues expanding semiconductor and AI export controls and research security reviews.

Greenfiltec posts first-half loss as activated carbon costs squeeze margins

DIGITIMES — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:18:11 GMT

Greenfiltec reported first-half 2026 consolidated revenue of NT$311 million, up 18.35% from a year earlier, but the Taiwan-based airborne molecular contamination (AMC) filter supplier swung to a net loss of NT$140 million. The company said higher shipments of high-end filters for semiconductor customers lifted sales, while surging activated carbon costs cut into profitability.

Rethinking road safety: Why existing safety standards can no longer keep pace with autonomous vehicles' advances

Jingyue Hsiao — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:18:00 GMT

AI is moving from infotainment into steering, braking, and other core driving functions, raising safety questions that matter far beyond one market. Traditional testing rules are no longer enough, Irene Chuang, senior business manager for Industrial Services and Information Security at TÜV Rheinland Taiwan, said at a Taiwan industry forum, as regulators and automakers worldwide confront black-box AI risks in vehicles.

WT Micro sees AI data centers and communications reaching 70% of revenue, with growth extending into 2027

Levi Li — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:17:47 GMT

WT Microelectronics (WT Micro) posted record revenue and profit in the second quarter of 2026, supported by strong AI momentum and better-than-expected demand from the automotive and consumer markets. AI data centers and communications now account for 70% of revenue, up from 50%, with their contribution expected to rise further.

Rohm sees AI server demand lift first-quarter profit 4,825%

DIGITIMES — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:17:36 GMT

Rohm Semiconductor reported sharply higher first-quarter results on August 5, 2026, as recovering demand for automotive power semiconductors and strong AI-linked data center business drove growth. For the quarter ended June 2026, the Japanese chipmaker posted revenue of JPY135.7 billion, up 16.8% from a year earlier, while operating profit surged 4,825.6% to JPY9.6 billion.

Ajinomoto rides advanced packaging boom as ABF demand surges

DIGITIMES — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:17:26 GMT

Ajinomoto raised its full-year forecast on August 6 as growing demand for AI servers and high-performance computing lifted sales of electronic materials used in semiconductor package substrates, highlighting how advanced packaging is shifting more value upstream into specialized materials.

Macronix, Winbond post record July revenue as memory prices rise

DIGITIMES — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:17:10 GMT

Taiwan memory chipmakers Macronix International and Winbond Electronics both posted record monthly revenue in July, extending strong second-quarter momentum as tight supply and rising memory prices continue to lift profitability.

Hanwha Aerospace turns trillion-won profit into AI, unmanned warfare push

Willis Ke — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:16:56 GMT

South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace posted a second-quarter 2026 operating profit of more than KRW1 trillion (approx. US$704.9 million), highlighting its ability to expand military exports and aerospace operations simultaneously. With earnings momentum strengthening, the company is now positioning unmanned warfare and AI-enabled combat systems as its next major growth drivers.

Genius Electronic Optical revenue rose 39% in July as lens demand entered peak season

DIGITIMES — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:14:56 GMT

Genius Electronic Optical (GSEO) reported July 2026 consolidated revenue of NT$2.422 billion on August 7, up 39.28% from NT$1.739 billion in June and 1.63% from NT$2.384 billion a year earlier. Cumulative consolidated revenue for the first seven months of 2026 reached NT$14.245 billion, an increase of 14.2% from NT$12.474 billion in the same period of 2025.

Innodisk posts record second quarter profit on AI and memory demand

DIGITIMES — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:14:38 GMT

Innodisk reported record second-quarter 2026 results as surging memory prices and artificial intelligence demand lifted profit, revenue, and margins. The memory module maker said quarterly net profit reached NT$10.368 billion, with earnings per share reaching NT$108.93.

VSO's Vietnam expansion and AI-server growth point to bigger upside, but memory shortages cloud the outlook

Jingyue Hsiao — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:14:27 GMT

VSO Electronics said its Vietnam plant is on track for trial production by the end of December 2026 as it expands its presence in AI server applications, liquid-cooling leak detection, and high-speed cables. The company is also preparing for tighter supply conditions in the second half of 2026, especially in memory.

EOI posts record first-half revenue and profit on auto LED demand

DIGITIMES — Sat, 8 Aug 2026 23:14:10 GMT

Excellence Optoelectronics Holdings said second-quarter 2026 profit climbed as improved operating efficiency offset softer revenue, while first-half revenue and profit reached record highs for the period. The automotive LED lighting maker reported net profit attributable to parent company shareholders of NT$142 million (US$4.39 million) in the second quarter, up 44.15% quarter-over-quarter, and said its Mexico plant is scheduled to begin mass-producing dozens of products in the fourth quarter.