DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Clevo posts 40% year-on-year profit growth as it stocks components ahead of second-quarter notebook price rises

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:59:32 GMT

Clevo reported steady first-quarter 2026 results, with consolidated revenue of NT$4.941 billion (US$157.3 million), gross profit of NT$1.03 billion, operating income of NT$338 million, and net income after tax of NT$350 million, delivering quarterly earnings per share of NT$0.61. The firm said first-quarter profit rose 25% from the prior quarter and 40% year-on-year, and leadership stated it will pursue continued quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year growth in the second quarter.

Taiwan targets three key sectors in upcoming 6G era

Rodney Chan — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:59:14 GMT

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has launched a new next-generation communications program under its A+ Industrial Innovative R&D Program, aiming to steer company research toward 6G networks, non-terrestrial networks (NTN), and all-photonics networks (APN). The move follows the Executive Yuan's Five Trusted Industry Sectors push launched in May 2024, and its Next-Generation Communications Technology Development Program announced in July 2025.

OpenAI and chipmakers roll out MRC to prevent AI training slowdowns

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:57:14 GMT

OpenAI said it has partnered with chipmakers and cloud providers — including AMD, Broadcom, Intel, Microsoft, and Nvidia — to develop a new networking protocol aimed at improving the performance and reliability of large-scale AI training systems.

Chinese semiconductor suppliers expand SEA presence at SEMICON SEA 2026

Charlene Chen — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:47:27 GMT

At SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, China's semiconductor equipment makers are steadily "infiltrating" the Southeast Asian market, extending from back-end packaging and testing into front-end processes while setting up subsidiaries in Singapore and Malaysia and using localized branding to break through. The shift is reshaping the competitive landscape at the region's annual semiconductor showcase.

ASE, Wus to jointly build Kaohsiung advanced packaging plant by 2029

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:43:32 GMT

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and PCB manufacturer Wus Printed Circuit are teaming up to build a new packaging facility in southern Taiwan, as the world's largest chip assembler moves to expand capacity ahead of surging AI-driven demand. The plant, to be located in the Kaohsiung Nanzih Technology Industrial Park, is scheduled to open in September 2029.

Anthropic's AI expansion reportedly fuels US$1.8 billion Akamai cloud deal

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:40:08 GMT

AI startup Anthropic has reportedly signed a US$1.8 billion computing agreement with Akamai Technologies as demand for generative AI services continues to accelerate, according to a report by Bloomberg News citing people familiar with the matter.

AI boom drives Taiwan's semiconductor testing industry into record expansion

Elaine Chen — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:33:26 GMT

To secure a foothold in the booming market for advanced AI chip packaging and testing, Taiwan's outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) industry is entering what executives and analysts describe as an unprecedented expansion cycle. Industry observers estimate that combined capital expenditures by Taiwanese OSAT providers could surge to a record NT$400 billion (approx. US$12.7 billion) in 2026, driven by an aggressive race to expand high-end production capacity.

Unitree brings App Store ecosystem to humanoid robots

Levi Li — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:12:58 GMT

Unitree Robotics has launched what it calls the world's first humanoid robot motion App Store, allowing users to download and install robot skills in a manner similar to smartphone apps.

Weekly news roundup: Taiwan freezes trading in MediaTek; 2D NAND shortage spirals

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 02:06:35 GMT

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of May 4-10, 2026:

PCL Technologies to buy precision plastics and metal parts maker to target CPO components for data centers

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 01:54:31 GMT

PCL Technologies announced that its board approved a plan to acquire 100% of Pingood Group, including Pingood Enterprise Co., Pingood (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Pingji Electronics (Dongguan) Co., Ltd., and Suzhou Pingji Electronics Technology Co., Ltd., with the purchase funded primarily from company cash and supplemented by bank financing as needed. The move marked PCL Technologies' entry into high-precision plastic and metal mechanical components to support optical and electronic packaging for data center and AI applications.

APLEX forecasts charging-station shipments as medical business ramps in 2027

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 01:51:30 GMT

APLEX Technology said it secured a charging-pile order from a leading US customer and expected mass production shipments in the fourth quarter, while medical product trials with a European customer were slated to generate contributions beginning in 2027. The industrial PC maker described smart manufacturing, smart transportation, and smart healthcare as its 2026 focus areas and reported that stainless-steel, fully waterproof IPC products were gaining traction in food processing, biopharmaceuticals, and petrochemical explosion-proof applications.

AI surge drives Taiwan push for second-source PCB materials as market booms

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 01:48:39 GMT

The global copper-clad laminate market expanded sharply as AI computing demand forced higher-spec hardware, and Taiwan's printed circuit board supply chain moved to secure second-source positions, industry data showed. The Taiwan Printed Circuit Board Association reported the copper-clad laminate market reached US$16.02 billion in 2025 and was projected to rise to US$21.5 billion in 2026 as server designs demanded larger sizes, ultra-low-loss performance, and boards with more than 40 layers.

Lite-On posts 25% year-on-year revenue jump in April on AI power and BBU demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 01:43:59 GMT

Lite-On Technology reported April consolidated revenue of NT$16.7 billion (US$530 million), up 1% from March and 25% from a year earlier, marking the company's highest monthly intake in nearly seven and a half years, the firm announced. The company said that strong demand for power management systems for AI and cloud computing, advanced servers, high-efficiency backup battery units, and optoelectronic semiconductors drove the gain.

Taiwan, Germany extend joint EV battery R&D to 2029

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 11 May 2026 01:26:54 GMT

Taiwan and Germany signed a Science and Technology Arrangement (STA) in 2023 to promote joint research in semiconductors, hydrogen energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and other fields. Officials from Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) recently attended a lithium battery cooperation workshop in Dresden, Germany, where both sides confirmed continued support for a bilateral advanced battery research and development program from 2026 to 2029.

The AI memory squeeze may not ease before 2028

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:20:02 GMT

Global memory supply is under severe strain, prompting major cloud service providers to sign multi-year contracts with memory makers and forcing the industry to rethink capacity spending and pricing. The shortage reflects long lead times for new fabs and a strategic shift toward higher-margin memory types.

Taiwan chip testing firm sheds power unit, pivots to AI validation as margins recover

Willis Ke — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:12:17 GMT

Taiwan-based electronics verification and analysis specialist Integrated Service Technology (iST) posted weaker first-quarter revenue and an operating loss amid a major operational restructuring, but said the transition has laid the groundwork for a sharper focus on higher-margin AI-related validation and analysis services.

Gigabyte's Giga Computing bets on South Korea's sovereign AI boom

Elaine Chen — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:12:02 GMT

Gigabyte Technology subsidiary Giga Computing is expanding aggressively in South Korea, positioning itself to benefit from a surge in demand for AI servers driven by the country's sovereign AI ambitions and accelerating enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

Taiwan's EV charging companies find Europe's real opportunity in energy trading

Elaine Chen — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:11:39 GMT

As Europe accelerates the build-out of infrastructure for battery electric vehicles (EVs), the region has become one of the world's most strategically important and fiercely competitive markets for charging networks.

GSEO reports strong growth as it expands into new markets

Elaine Chen — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:11:28 GMT

Genius Electronic Optical (GSEO), the Taiwanese optical lens manufacturer known for supplying high-end smartphone camera components, reported strong revenue growth in April as the company pushes into new application markets beyond its traditional business.

Nvidia backs IREN in 5GW AI infrastructure push tied to US$2.1 billion stake

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:11:17 GMT

Nvidia is expanding its influence beyond AI chips and deeper into the infrastructure layer underpinning the global artificial intelligence boom, announcing a strategic partnership with AI cloud and data center operator IREN to deploy up to 5 gigawatts of AI infrastructure globally.

Samsung eyes Exynos 2700 as test for chip-unit recovery

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:11:05 GMT

Samsung Electronics is looking to the tentatively named Exynos 2700 application processor (AP) as a key test for its non-memory semiconductor recovery, with the chip's adoption rate and performance in the Galaxy S27 series expected to shape the outlook for its System LSI and foundry businesses.

India roundup: India accelerates semiconductor and display ambitions with new approvals, AI infrastructure expansion

DIGITIMES — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:10:44 GMT

India is advancing its electronics and semiconductor manufacturing strategy through new approvals for semiconductor and Mini/Micro LED projects, while companies including Tata Electronics and Yotta Data Services expand investments tied to chips, AI infrastructure, and data centers. The developments reflect India's broader push to become a larger global sourcing base for semiconductors, displays, automotive electronics, and AI-related manufacturing amid ongoing supply chain diversification.

AI demand fills Vanguard's Singapore fab ahead of schedule

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 23:51:35 GMT

Vanguard International Semiconductor said AI-driven demand has largely offset geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds and will be the dominant force shaping semiconductor industry conditions in 2026. The wafer foundry said AI infrastructure buildout has crowded available capacity, pushed prices higher and accelerated customer orders for its Singapore 12-inch fab, with sampling now slated for July 2026.

King Slide says AI compute demand is not a bubble and expects strong 2Q26 orders

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 23:48:45 GMT

King Slide, a maker of server rails and high-end mechanical components, said on May 7 that AI compute demand is not a bubble and that orders were expected to remain strong in the second quarter of 2026 as global cloud service providers continued rapid capital spending. Executives told an earnings call that sustained capex from GPU, AI-accelerated computing, and enterprise server customers signaled structural demand rather than a temporary surge.

Coupang Taiwan details local response to 2025 breach affecting 200,000 accounts, launches bug bounty

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 23:17:53 GMT

Coupang Taiwan’s chief information security officer spoke at CYBERSEC 2026 in Taiwan to detail a November 2025 customer data breach that exposed information from about 33.7 million accounts globally and impacted roughly 200,000 accounts in Taiwan. The executive said the firm strengthened technical defenses and external mechanisms and formally launched Taiwan’s first Public Bug Bounty Program in partnership with HackerOne to institutionalize vulnerability reporting.

Samsung boosts Galaxy S26 Ultra, A17 output as Q2 slowdown looms

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 23:17:39 GMT

Samsung Electronics has reportedly raised its May production plans for the Galaxy S26 series, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra leading the increase as demand for the company's premium smartphones holds steadier than expected amid the second quarter of 2026's seasonal slowdown.

Taiwan's IntelliEPI warns of severe indium phosphide supply shortage

Elaine Chen — Sat, 9 May 2026 23:16:36 GMT

As AI data centers demand ever-faster networking speeds and more advanced optical interconnects, one of the semiconductor industry's lesser-known materials is emerging as a major constraint.

What's driving the TSMC-Sony AI sensor JV?

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 09:26:34 GMT

TSMC and Sony Semiconductor Solutions signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding on May 8 to establish a joint venture developing and manufacturing next-generation AI image sensors, targeting automotive, robotics and advanced smartphone camera markets. The planned venture will be headquartered at Sony's new facility in Kōshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, with Sony holding a majority stake and operational control.

Quanta, Compal notebook shipments sink 30%-plus in April as Q1 pull-forward hangover hits

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 07:11:18 GMT

Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics, two of Taiwan's largest notebook contract manufacturers, posted April shipment declines exceeding 30% as a wave of orders pulled into late March left the following month with little to fill. The drop reflects a familiar quarter-end timing pattern rather than a demand collapse, executives said.

Wistron profit triples on server surge, AI demand seen robust

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 01:41:59 GMT

Wistron reported a sharp first-quarter rebound, with consolidated revenue of NT$846.3 billion and net profit of NT$9.631 billion, driven by a surge in server shipments that accounted for 79% of sales. Operating profit reached NT$29.1 billion, pre-tax profit NT$23.5 billion, and earnings per share NT$3.06 — all up sequentially and year on year — while gross margin narrowed to 5.21% as higher-margin system assembly made up a larger share of shipments.

EU’s new cyber rules are forcing a shift from AI hype to human-led defense

Willis Ke — Sat, 9 May 2026 01:16:52 GMT

At CYBERSEC 2026 in Taiwan, cybersecurity vendors are moving beyond single-product performance and focusing instead on operational resilience — helping enterprises maintain business continuity when attacks occur. The shift is driving demand for managed detection and response (MDR), supply-chain verification, and lifecycle security compliance as companies confront increasingly complex threats and tightening regulations such as the EU's Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

Samsung accelerates Pyeongtaek fab expansion as memory supercycle builds

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 01:16:41 GMT

Samsung Electronics is reportedly moving up construction of the final production line at its Pyeongtaek semiconductor campus, accelerating one of its largest capacity-expansion projects as demand for memory chips tied to artificial intelligence continues to exceed expectations.

Power chip shortages deepen as AI server demand and GaN battles escalate

DIGITIMES — Sat, 9 May 2026 01:16:31 GMT

Global power semiconductor suppliers are entering a new upcycle marked by tightening supply, rising prices, and intensifying technology competition, fueled by accelerating investment in AI infrastructure and electric vehicles.

China's robots move from half-marathon to triathlon

Lily Hess — Sat, 9 May 2026 01:16:20 GMT

Chinese robots, which recently demonstrated their ability to complete a half-marathon, are now entering a new stage of competition. The focus is shifting from flat-ground endurance and speed to sustained, high-difficulty operation in heat, heavy rain, shallow water, and complex terrain — signaling a transition from "long-distance runners" to "triathlon athletes" with greater endurance, payload capacity, and environmental adaptability.

Adata sees DRAM, NAND prices rise 40% in 2Q26

Lily Hess — Sat, 9 May 2026 01:15:24 GMT

Adata said DRAM and NAND flash contract prices will each climb more than 40% in the second quarter of 2026, as supply is kept tight by cloud server giants that have already locked up 2027 output from upstream memory suppliers. The memory module maker said its inventory topped NT$40 billion (approx. US$1.3 billion) as of the end of April, and it sees no risk to demand through the end of 2026.