DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Shin-Etsu plans rare earth plant in Japan to counter China supply curbs

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:05:21 GMT

Shin-Etsu Chemical plans to build a new rare earth production facility in Fukui Prefecture, aiming to expand domestic smelting capacity and reduce Japan's reliance on China for materials critical to electric vehicle and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, according to Nikkei and Kyodo News.

Taiwan PMIC maker Global Mixed-mode to raise prices as chip shortages persist

Levi Li — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:43:16 GMT

Taiwanese power management IC supplier Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) will follow peers in seeking price increases from customers as tight chip supply continues to reshape capacity allocation across the industry.

Samsung's packaging gap clouds chip comeback as TSMC, Intel push ahead

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:38:36 GMT

Samsung Electronics is regaining ground in high-bandwidth memory and foundry services, but advanced packaging remains a weak point in its bid to capture a larger share of the AI chip supply chain, according to industry sources and Korean media reports.

Second fire in less than two weeks disrupts SK Hynix's Cheongju chip campus

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:38:24 GMT

SK Hynix's latest fire at its Cheongju, South Korea, campus has again disrupted operations at a key memory-chip site and prompted evacuations of thousands of workers. The incident adds to a series of recent accidents, raising fresh safety concerns for semiconductor plants worldwide that depend on hazardous gases and chemicals.

Taiwan compute suppliers rise on booming AI demand, with several firms extending strong growth

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:37:41 GMT

Taiwan's semiconductor and electronics supply-chain companies continued to post generally firm sales in May, according to monthly revenue data and company disclosures, with the strongest accumulated growth concentrated in AI-linked logic, testing, substrate, and copper-clad laminate suppliers.

South Korea taps LG to localize robot simulation tech

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:45:27 GMT

South Korea has launched a two-year, KRW34 billion (US$22.22 million) project to develop domestic world model and robot foundation model technologies, aimed at reducing reliance on foreign simulation platforms for physical AI systems used in real-world environments.

South Korea concrete strike clouds chip supply: Samsung, SK Hynix fabs construction reportedly stalls

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:43:23 GMT

A strike by South Korea's ready-mix concrete transport union is disrupting major semiconductor construction sites and raising concerns about wider industrial spillovers. If the stoppage continues, delays could spread beyond building projects and affect production schedules that matter to global technology supply chains and investors.

Aver South Korea push signals a broader bid for direct sales, local service, and higher-end AV demand

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:30:49 GMT

Global video solutions provider Aver is accelerating its expansion in South Korea, planning to formally establish a local subsidiary in June 2026 to meet rising demand from companies and educational institutions. The move could strengthen its access to corporate collaboration, professional AV, and hybrid learning markets.

Meta unwinds Manus AI deal after China order, signaling tighter global scrutiny

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:06:14 GMT

Meta Platforms has fully severed operational and data-sharing ties with agentic AI startup Manus after Chinese regulators ordered the transaction canceled. The move affects global investors and AI developers, as it highlights how Beijing's intervention can reshape cross-border deals, block system access, and force companies to unwind technology integration after a deal closes.

Accton says AI networking demand is rising as it expands capacity for optical products

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:03:39 GMT

AI server and cloud data center growth is boosting demand for high-speed switches and optical communications, with global supply chains feeling the strain. Taiwan networking equipment maker Accton said on June 11 that customer demand is stronger than before, while supply shortages and capacity limits are making the outlook harder to balance.

Ubiqconn, AV sign pact to develop universal unmanned systems controller

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:56:15 GMT

Ubiqconn Technology and AeroVironment have agreed to jointly develop a next-generation universal controller, a move that could make unmanned systems easier to operate across borders and manufacturers. The plan targets defense, public safety, and emergency response users, where interoperability and reliability are becoming increasingly important worldwide.

5G upgrades, AIDC projects boost Taiwan telcos in May

Kevin Wang — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:46:19 GMT

Strong 5G upgrade momentum, Mother's Day handset promotions, and a wave of enterprise ICT projects tied to AI data center buildouts and cloud computing infrastructure helped Taiwan's three major telecom operators post solid results in May 2026. Chunghwa Telecom logged record-high revenue and EBITDA for the month of May, while Taiwan Mobile kept its lead in profitability with EPS of NT$0.50, and Far EasTone continued its growth in mobile services with the industry's highest 5G penetration among monthly-plan users.

Silicon Labs expands India presence as smart infrastructure demand grows ahead of TI acquisition

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:43:46 GMT

Silicon Labs is deepening its presence in India through expanded research operations and a greater commercial focus on smart infrastructure applications, even as the US-based wireless chipmaker prepares for an acquisition by Texas Instruments.

AI server tracker: Taiwan's AI server build chain widens as rack suppliers outpace peers

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:43:25 GMT

Taiwan's server supply chain continues to benefit from AI infrastructure, with growth spread across connectors, cables, cabinets, rails, and system assembly. But the pace varies, as some companies are seeing only modest gains while others tied more closely to AI server racks, liquid cooling, and high-value interconnects are growing much faster.

Taiwan AI infrastructure suppliers see broad sales gains in May

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:38:05 GMT

Taiwan's AI infrastructure technology suppliers posted stronger sales in May, led by firms tied to artificial intelligence servers, data-center networking, optical communications, and advanced cooling. The figures suggest demand remains driven by the buildout of AI infrastructure, with higher power loads, faster interconnects, and more complex thermal systems boosting orders and product mix.

Google weighs Samsung's role in next AI chip as TSMC capacity tightens

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:33:40 GMT

Google is considering using Samsung Electronics to manufacture part of a future artificial intelligence (AI) chip, a move that would mark a notable shift in the US tech group's supply chain as demand for advanced AI silicon strains capacity at TSMC.

Boston Dynamics highlights diverse strategies in humanoid robotics amid Nvidia-Unitree collab

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:31:31 GMT

Boston Dynamics, one of the leading humanoid robotics companies in the US, during a recent visit to Taiwan, addressed Nvidia's announcement that it will partner with Chinese humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics.

PCIM 2026: Accepting local component deficits for system-level benefits

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:31:11 GMT

In power electronics engineering, Silicon Carbide (SiC) companies are competing to achieve the absolute lowest thermal resistance (R_th), with the mindset that lower heat signature equates a superior system. However, at PCIM Europe 2026, a collaborative project between Rohm Semiconductor, Schweizer Electronic, and eMoveUs GmbH exposed a revolutionary counter-intuitive shift in design philosophy: willingly accepting a localized thermal performance deficit to ultimately achieve dominant system-level advantages.

Sigurd revenue hits record as AI and chip demand lift operations

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:29:49 GMT

Sigurd announced that its May revenue reached a historic high, driven by overseas customer expansion, stronger demand for AI-related chips, and rising use of advanced packaging capacity. The result suggests continued momentum in global semiconductor supply chains, with implications for networking, memory, and high-performance computing markets worldwide.

Weblink International reports strong growth as AI demand lifts sales

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:29:23 GMT

Weblink International Inc. said rising global demand for artificial intelligence applications and digital transformation is boosting its business, underscoring how enterprise technology spending is reshaping markets for customers and suppliers worldwide. The company said it is expanding its AI focus and adjusting its product mix to respond to changing demand.

LG Display and Tianma strike patent license deal, end OLED, LCD dispute

Charlene Chen — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:19:58 GMT

LG Display (LGD) has settled OLED- and LCD-related patent disputes with China-based Tianma Microelectronics, including cases in the US, and signed a patent licensing agreement. LGD could begin recognizing licensing revenue as early as the second quarter of 2026.

Asus begins local gaming laptop production in India

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:16:23 GMT

Asus has announced plans to begin making gaming laptops in India this financial year — a move that could reshape supply chains, pricing, and availability in one of the world's fastest-growing PC markets. The shift underscores a broader trend of global technology brands localizing manufacturing to deepen market reach and reduce import dependence, according to the Hindu Business Line.

Alibaba's stealth model launch, Meitu's outsourcing play — China's visual AI market defies a single playbook

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:15:12 GMT

One of China's largest visual AI consumer platforms has deliberately chosen not to build its own models; a startup competing against ByteDance and Alibaba is pursuing a strategy of making its models cheaper rather than better; and Alibaba launched one of its video generation models under a pseudonymous brand before revealing its identity — what its executive described as "a very big branding moment." Those were among the more pointed observations to emerge from a panel discussion on the visual AI stack at SuperAI Singapore 2026 on Thursday.

Government pushes south Taiwan AI ecosystem, unveils 120 smart health applications

Rodney Chan — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:40 GMT

The Taiwanese government has approved the Southern Taiwan Silicon Valley Program, aiming to use AI to drive smart transformation across healthcare, long-term care, and other industries while steering R&D toward local demand and strengthening the industrial ecosystem in the southern regions of the country. The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) said that 120 AI smart health applications will be formally unveiled at an event on June 12, with Premier Cho Jung-tai and other officials set to attend.

OpenAI to acquire Ona to expand Codex for persistent agent work

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:58:22 GMT

OpenAI said it will acquire Ona, a cloud execution and orchestration startup, in a move that could broaden how businesses worldwide use AI. The deal is aimed at making Codex more secure, persistent, and useful for longer tasks across cloud environments, not just on a single device or in one session.

TSMC hit by US patent suit, Taiwan ministry pledges support

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:54:43 GMT

TSMC has been drawn into a patent infringement complaint in the US by Ireland-based patent licensing firms Longitude Licensing and Marlin Semiconductor. The companies have claimed that the US government could block imports to the US of chips made by TSMC as a result of the case, and have enlisted several members of Congress to support their position, drawing market attention.

Hanwha Qcells expands from US solar manufacturing into lunar testing, highlighting supply-chain and technology implications

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:53:49 GMT

Hanwha Qcells is moving its next-generation solar technology from terrestrial markets to a lunar test platform, while also bringing a major US manufacturing site into production. The two developments underscore the company's push to link high-efficiency solar research with a larger American supply chain.

Hanmi Semiconductor to invest in SpaceX as Terafab bets grow

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:50:33 GMT

Hanmi Semiconductor plans to invest KRW50 billion (US$32.81 million) in SpaceX, highlighting how space, satellites, and artificial intelligence infrastructure are increasingly linked. For global readers, the deal signals how semiconductor suppliers are positioning themselves around next-generation supply chains, customer demand, and the expansion of AI-driven industrial ecosystems.

MediaTek May 2026 revenue rises nearly 5% ahead of ASIC ramp

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:39:25 GMT

MediaTek reported May 2026 revenue of NT$47.43 billion (approx. US$1.5 billion), up 1.49% from the previous month and 4.99% from a year earlier. Cumulative revenue for the first five months of 2026 totaled NT$243.32 billion, down 1.59% from the same period last year.

Cadence deepens Intel Foundry partnership on next-generation chip design

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:33:08 GMT

Cadence and Intel Foundry are expanding their collaboration on advanced chip design, a move that could affect future semiconductors used in devices and data centers worldwide. The agreement aims to improve performance, power efficiency, and design readiness as chipmakers race to bring next-generation technologies to market.

Malaysia, Japan expand rare earth and energy cooperation

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:32:37 GMT

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim concluded a three-day visit to Japan, during which he met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The two leaders pledged to strengthen cooperation in critical minerals.

HPSP reportedly receives test equipment order for Musk's Terafab

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:22:52 GMT

Elon Musk's planned Terafab chipmaking project has taken an early equipment-sourcing step, with South Korean equipment maker HPSP reportedly receiving a purchase order for high-pressure hydrogen annealing equipment.

SK Hynix readies 375-layer NAND as US listing plan advances

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:19:35 GMT

SK Hynix is preparing to begin mass production of its next-generation 375-layer 3D NAND flash memory by year-end, while pushing ahead with a broader capacity buildout and moving toward a US listing as early as August.

SuperAI 2026: From turbine backlogs to copper limits, AMD maps infrastructure walls closing in on AI

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:17:41 GMT

The artificial intelligence (AI) industry is expanding at a pace that the physical world cannot match, and the gap between digital demand and real-world supply is widening across every layer of the infrastructure stack, from power generation to chip manufacturing to data center construction. That was the assessment of Sachin Hindupur, global strategy and operations leader at AMD, in a presentation at SuperAI Singapore 2026 on Thursday.

Chinese chip foundry United Nova bets US$3B on AI power, optical interconnects

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:11:46 GMT

United Nova Technology (UNT) is expanding from automotive and industrial chips into AI server power management and optical interconnects through a CNY20 billion (US$3 billion) 12-inch mixed-signal fab project.

China tightens EV safety rules as new standards target battery fires and crash risks

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:05:58 GMT

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly common on Chinese roads, concerns over their safety—particularly battery-related risks—have come under growing scrutiny.

Korean battery equipment makers expand India push as EV supply chain globalizes

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:05:47 GMT

From SK On-linked exports to Tata Agratas buildouts, South Korean equipment suppliers are increasingly supplying full battery production lines in India as the market shifts from planning to early-stage manufacturing.

Coretronic sees June shipments rebound after May revenue rises

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:05:29 GMT

Coretronic reported consolidated revenue of about NT$3.243 billion for May 2026, up 2% from April and 6% from a year earlier, supported by shipment growth in its imaging and energy-saving product businesses.

Powerlogic says AI server demand and rising memory costs hit May 2026 revenue

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:05:23 GMT

Powerlogic reported that a surge in demand for AI servers, a reallocation of supply-chain resources, higher memory prices, and delayed consumer upgrade cycles reduced short-term sales, pressuring its May results and revenues for the first five months of the year. The company disclosed May revenue of NT$63.87 million (US$2 million), down 29.37% month-over-month, and cumulative revenue for the first five months of NT$479 million, a 39.99% decline year-over-year.

TSS Holdings warns long-term US operating costs are the main barrier for Taiwan suppliers

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:05:13 GMT

TSS Holdings and an alliance of 18 Taiwanese semiconductor materials, components and equipment firms said on June 9 that the primary challenge for small and medium-sized suppliers building factories in the US is not localization but the heavy long-term operating cost burden. The group, formed to respond to the Taiwan+1 de-risking trend, warned that regional differences in labor culture, infrastructure efficiency and hidden expenses make US operations particularly costly over the next 10 to 20 years.

Qualcomm opens China auto chip ecosystem to challenge Horizon Robotics, Nvidia

Levi Li — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:05:08 GMT

Qualcomm recently held its 2026 Automotive Technology and Cooperation Summit in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, marking the fourth consecutive year it has hosted a China-focused automotive industry event. At the main forum, Frank Meng, chairman of Qualcomm China, said: "2026 is the year of the agent."

Lite-On posts May 2026 revenue jump as AI server power demand boosts sales

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:05:01 GMT

Lite-On Technology reported consolidated revenue of NT$17.4 billion (US$550 million) in May 2026, up 4% month-over-month and 30% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for AI and cloud high-end server power supplies and high-efficiency backup battery systems. The firm said revenue for the first five months of 2026 reached NT$77.5 billion, a 23% increase year-over-year.

Everlight sees weak 1H26 profits, with Thailand expansion and cost cuts central to 2H26 recovery

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:04:50 GMT

LED packaging maker Everlight Electronics said first-quarter 2026 earnings fell to NT$0.91 (US$0.03) per share from NT$1.32 a year earlier, reflecting a sharp increase in metal raw material prices. Chairman Yin-Fu Ye said the company is leaning on cost optimization, manufacturing improvements, and a new Thailand plant to restore profitability later in the year.

Largan keeps smartphone lens business on growth path as launch schedules shift

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:04:41 GMT

Largan Technology said its smartphone lens business remains on a steady growth track, even as key customer launch timing shifts into 2026 and 2027. The change could reshape seasonal demand patterns for global smartphone supply chains, while memory price inflation and AI-related pressure add uncertainty for manufacturers and component suppliers.

Taiwan advances next-generation communications plan for 6G

Rodney Chan — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:04:33 GMT

Taiwan's next-generation communications program, one of the Five Trusted Industry Sectors designated by President Lai Ching-te, is helping companies position early for the 6G market as global standardization moves into a critical phase. International targets point to 2030 for 6G commercialization, while the international standard is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2029.

Aurotek expands robot and automation footprint as non-humanoid demand surges

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:04:17 GMT

Aurotek reported accelerating revenue and is pivoting its product strategy toward large-scale robot automation as demand from AI infrastructure, AI servers and advanced semiconductor manufacturing climbed in 2026. The firm said it completed a leadership transition in 2026 after the former chairman stepped down, and a new chairman took the helm following the completion of a staged handover.

Jiin Ming highlights tactical fixed-wing drones as Taiwan pushes non-red supply chain expansion

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:04:09 GMT

Jiin Ming Industry showcased its tactical fixed-wing drone platform and related technologies at a Taiwan drone alliance event on June 9, 2026, presenting a flight-ready multirotor called VIPER and a fixed-wing system named SABER as it pursues overseas expansion into the US, Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia with alliance support. The event, organized by the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance and convened in Taichung, gathered domestic drone firms, supply chain partners, and representatives from industry, government, academia, and research to discuss export and supply-chain strategies.

T3EX Global Holdings posts May revenue gain as China shipments and high-tech logistics recover

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:03:59 GMT

T3EX Global Holdings reported consolidated revenue of NT$2.099 billion (approx. US$66.4 million) in May 2026, up 11.13% month-over-month and 10.70% year-over-year, driven by a rebound in high-tech logistics and cross-border transport, the firm announced. The company said cumulative consolidated revenue for January-May 2026 totaled NT$8.835 billion, a 3.73% decline from the same period a year earlier.

Amphenol to raise connector prices by 5% in July 2026

Charlene Chen — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:03:51 GMT

Amphenol, a global leader in electronic and fiber-optic connectors, cables, and interconnect systems, has notified customers that it will raise prices by 5% on selected products starting July 1, 2026. The company said sustained global demand and the conflict between the US and Iran have driven sharp increases in key raw material costs over the past six months, prompting the move.

Catcher maintains cautious outlook for 2026 as supply bottlenecks and cost pressures persist

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:03:38 GMT

Catcher Technology, a metal chassis maker, said it remained cautiously conservative about its 2026 operations due to ongoing supply-chain bottlenecks, rising costs and uncertain end-market demand. The firm reported May 2026 consolidated group revenue of NT$918 million, down 4.3% month-over-month and down 48.3% year-over-year, and cumulative revenue for the first five months of the year of NT$5.65 billion, down 26.0% year-over-year.

J&V Energy moves into AI data center power infrastructure to tap Taiwan's AI electricity boom

Levi Li — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:03:31 GMT

J&V Energy Technology is deepening its push into green power trading, energy storage, and overseas markets, while moving to capture new opportunities in AI energy infrastructure as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and data centers drive sustained growth in electricity demand.

Official think tank lays out 2035 roadmap to reduce India's reliance on imported chips

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:03:23 GMT

India's official think tank NITI Aayog has outlined a 2035 roadmap for India to become a more central part of the global semiconductor industry, warning that continued reliance on imports leaves the country exposed to cost, supply, and security risks.

PCIM 2026: Overcoming thermal warping in direct-cooled EV power modules

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:03:11 GMT

As wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) take the lead in electric vehicle (EV) powertrains, electronics packaging engineers are facing a thermodynamic reckoning. To extract maximum performance from these high-frequency, high-efficiency chips, the industry is driving an architectural shift: shrinking inverter volumes, eliminating heavy copper baseplates, and mounting molded power packages directly to liquid-cooled water jackets. However, this high-power-density approach exposes a fragile structural vulnerability. When mismatched materials are bonded under extreme manufacturing conditions, the physics of thermal expansion can tear a high-value power module apart before it ever leaves the assembly line.

Anthropic reportedly eyes direct data center leases, deepens infrastructure bet with Google support

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:55:23 GMT

Anthropic is moving to take greater control of the infrastructure powering its AI models, signing more than a dozen preliminary agreements to lease US data center facilities while exploring arrangements under which Google could backstop some of its lease obligations, according to a report by The Information.

CXMT IPO rides HBM shift to shake DRAM order, but Koreans seen holding ground

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:30:36 GMT

ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China's largest DRAM maker, plans to raise approximately CNY29.5 billion (US$4.35 billion) through an IPO on Shanghai's STAR Market, fueling debate about whether China's push into memory semiconductors can eventually erode the dominance of the industry's established players.

Tesla's US-made LFP battery push faces China's scale advantage

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:25:54 GMT

Tesla is building its own lithium iron phosphate supply chain as it seeks to compete with China's low-cost battery industry, according to clues in Aleees' public share offering prospectus and industry analysis. The move points to a broader effort to secure batteries, energy storage systems, and other long-term demand drivers while sidestepping Chinese patent barriers.

Anthropic expands footprint in India via major IT partnerships

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:17:26 GMT

US AI firm Anthropic has deepened its presence in India's tech sector through a new strategic alliance with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the nation's top software exporter, reports Reuters.

China's memory firms chase capital as AI storage demand lifts Biwin, Longsys

Levi Li — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:11:45 GMT

As CXMT and YMTC move toward initial public offerings, other players across China's memory supply chain are also advancing expansion, fundraising, and listing plans. The activity spans memory modules, controller chips, and niche DRAM, underscoring how China's memory industry is evolving from upstream chipmakers into a broader supply chain ecosystem.

CXMT and YMTC chase IPOs as AI memory demand tests capacity, yield, and tool localisation

Levi Li — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:59:11 GMT

China's two leading memory chipmakers, CXMT and YMTC, are moving closer to the capital market, putting the country's memory industry back under the semiconductor spotlight.

Taiwan OSAT firms gain from AI chip demand and foundry spillover

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:33:40 GMT

The global push for AI and HPC chips is tightening advanced packaging capacity and lifting orders for outsourced semiconductor assembly and test providers. For international customers and supply chains, the shift suggests stronger demand for Taiwan's packaging and testing firms, alongside a broader rebalancing of semiconductor production.

Google TPU orders shift as MediaTek, Marvell, and Broadcom split market

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:15:38 GMT

Broadcom has acknowledged it will not win all of Google's TPU orders, highlighting how tensor processing units have become a competitive arena for multiple chipmakers. For global readers, the shift signals a broader race for cloud AI supply, capacity, and influence, as more firms vie for a share of high-value custom chip demand.

SuperAI Singapore: Arm and Cerebras push system-wide fixes to cut inference AI bottlenecks

DIGITIMES — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:33:18 GMT

Breaking the inference barrier requires a rethink of the whole system architecture, not just faster compute. This was the key takeaway from a recent panel discussion at SuperAI Singapore, which brought chip makers and an AI model accelerator together to address how to overcome inference bottlenecks at a time when compute workloads are hitting up against physical limits.

China squeezes InP supplies, jolting US-Taiwan optics chain

Charlene Chen — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:32:54 GMT

China's export controls on the key semiconductor material indium phosphide (InP), imposed since February 2025, are threatening global AI data-center buildouts and squeezing the optical supply chain across the US and Taiwan. The restrictions have triggered shortages and delayed export licenses, while sending prices soaring for a material with no substitute in photonics. InP is a core material for high-speed optical chips and is irreplaceable in photonics technologies that transmit signals over fiber, making it a potent "materials choke point" weapon in Beijing's US-China trade war.

Power semiconductors race to cut resistance for GPU cooling

Charlene Chen — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:32:32 GMT

Power semiconductors are taking on a central role as AI data centers move from 800V high-voltage input down through multiple power-conversion stages to the ultra-low voltages used by chips. After the post-pandemic inventory correction, industry players say power semiconductors have shifted "from a supporting role to the lead" under the new AI high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power architecture.

Alibaba's DingTalk ousts founder CEO after AI overhaul exposes management rift

Levi Li — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:32:18 GMT

Alibaba-owned DingTalk is facing renewed scrutiny after a management controversy at the intelligent workplace platform triggered a leadership shake-up. Alibaba Group announced on June 11 that DingTalk founder Chen Hang, also known internally as "Wu Zhao," had stepped down as CEO and would be replaced by Chen Yusen.

Ennoconn boosts Kontron stake to target physical AI

Charlene Chen — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:31:54 GMT

Ennoconn held a board meeting on June 10, 2026, and approved a voluntary cash tender offer for ordinary shares of German-listed Kontron AG at EUR23.5 (US$27.14) per share. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close by the end of August 2026. The move goes beyond regulatory compliance and signals Ennoconn's intent to further increase its stake and strengthen its control over operations.

Lenovo reportedly plans second PC price hike as memory costs squeeze supply chain

Levi Li — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:31:41 GMT

Chinese PC major Lenovo is reportedly set to raise prices across its entire product line from July 2026, with increases broadly in line with its first round of adjustments in March. Retail prices for some models could rise by as much as CNY1,000 (approx. US$148).

Nextron says AI supply chain is in place as orders extend to 2027

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:31:19 GMT

Nextron said its AI data center supply chain has fully taken shape, with demand spanning servers, switches, and liquid-cooling units. The connector maker said visibility now extends into 2027, underscoring how global AI spending is supporting longer production planning, wider supplier networks, and steadier revenue expectations for customers and markets.

Cloud migration alone is not enough for AI adoption, said SAP

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:31:05 GMT

Many companies have moved enterprise systems to the cloud. Still, global readers are now seeing a broader lesson: without cleaner data, tighter governance, and better integration, AI can remain stuck at the pilot stage. SAP said the real challenge is not just deploying tools, but rebuilding the foundations that let them scale.

Sharp lays out 2026 growth strategy with AI servers as top priority

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:30:33 GMT

Foxconn affiliate Sharp said in Tokyo that it has moved beyond restructuring and onto a new growth phase, with global implications for customers, suppliers, and enterprise buyers watching Japan's technology sector. The company said AI servers will anchor its next expansion, alongside connected home services, corporate IT, and emerging mobility, satellite, and display businesses worldwide.

DDR4 shortage tightens as Nanya capacity fills and prices climb

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:30:05 GMT

DDR4 memory supply remains tight, with the shortage affecting buyers worldwide, from cloud and server operators to industrial and networking customers. Sources indicate that Nanya Technology's limited third-quarter 2026 capacity has led major shareholders and customers to secure output, pushing contract prices higher and making further gains increasingly likely.

SuperAI Singapore: Physical AI accelerates as cheaper hardware and AI models drive robot data demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Robotics has progressed rapidly in the past few years, but major obstacles — including data collection and trust infrastructure — remain barriers to widespread deployment. This was the takeaway from a recent panel of robotics experts at SuperAI Singapore, where they discussed the present and future of the industry.

Taiwan chips in as drone makers ditch China supply chains

Charlene Chen — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:50:37 GMT

Taiwan's drone supply chain is notching fresh wins, with downstream players such as Thunder Tiger and Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) continuing to secure orders while upstream suppliers, especially chipmakers, are quietly expanding their deployments and market share. For military and commercial drones in particular, Taiwanese chip vendors are now working closely with local customers as well as customers in Europe and the US to integrate a range of on-board image-processing and AI recognition modules, plus applications such as flight control and ground control stations.