DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Yulon Nissan revenue hits five-month high on stronger June sales

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:56:42 GMT

Yulon Nissan reported June 2026 revenue on July 13, posting NT$1.236 billion(US$38.53 million), down 1.91% year on year but up 13.63% from May. The automaker said the monthly result was a five-month high and its second-highest level of 2026, supported by stronger sales and delivery momentum as it awaited benefits from new models.

Taiwan's auto parts makers pivot to high-tech as AI cooling, chip equipment demand surges

Willis Ke — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:44:53 GMT

Taiwan's automotive parts makers are accelerating their transformation into high-tech suppliers as the global expansion of advanced semiconductor capacity and AI server infrastructure creates new demand for precision-engineered components. Companies traditionally focused on powertrain, transmission, and safety systems are leveraging decades of manufacturing expertise to secure positions in semiconductor equipment and AI liquid-cooling supply chains, creating new growth engines beyond their core automotive businesses.

China Life commits US$700M to semiconductor fund under Beijing's patient capital strategy

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:39:13 GMT

China Life Insurance Company Limited plans to invest CNY4.999 billion (US$697 million) in a new CNY5 billion semiconductor private equity fund, extending Beijing's effort to direct long-term insurance capital into strategic chip technologies.

SK Hynix reportedly starts Nvidia HBM4 shipments ahead of September ramp

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:13:55 GMT

SK Hynix began mass-production shipments of 12-layer HBM4 to Nvidia at the end of June and is increasing output ahead of a broader ramp, The Bell reported, citing semiconductor industry sources.

Trump admin reportedly urged Apple to procure chips from Intel in exchange for dropping tariffs

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:28:21 GMT

Reports have emerged that Apple may have managed to avoid 100% tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, partly by agreeing to partner with Intel to manufacture its chips. While Apple could benefit from expanding its chip suppliers, the episode also shows the power of Intel's government backing as the US seeks to reshore its semiconductor industry.

Tesla AI5 chip reportedly completes tape-out for Samsung's Texas fab

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:17:55 GMT

Samsung Electronics has reportedly completed the tape-out of its version of Tesla's AI5 chip for self-driving systems, with the chip scheduled to be manufactured at Samsung's Taylor, Texas, fab using the company's 2nm process.

Pegatron June revenue rose 15.9% on server shipments and AI expansion

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:35:42 GMT

Pegatron reported June revenue of NT$91.296 billion (US$28.43 billion), up 15.9% year over year and down 4.9% from May, as shipments increased on the gradual rollout of its new server business. The Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer said the business mix shift had helped deliver double-digit annual growth for two straight months, while management expects AI-related revenue to keep rising steadily in 2026.

Intel eyes dual-side power in 1.4nm push against TSMC

Charlene Chen — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:29:14 GMT

Intel is reportedly preparing a new technology roadmap for its next-generation 1.4nm process, 14A2, as it evaluates a hybrid architecture that can deliver power from both sides of the chip. Industry observers say Intel and Samsung Electronics are both taking on harder-to-manufacture technologies in the ultra-advanced process race as they try to catch up with TSMC.

TSMC June 2026 revenue surges 68% as AI demand continues to fuel growth

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:28:25 GMT

TSMC reported another month of strong revenue growth, underscoring continued demand for advanced chips used in AI applications. According to the company's June revenue report, consolidated revenue reached NT$442.68 billion (approx. US$13.8 billion) in June, up 6.2% month-over-month and 67.9% year-over-year. For the first six months of 2026, revenue totaled NT$2.4 trillion, representing a 35.6% year-over-year increase.

China's 2030 target for 30% NEV adoption raises the stakes for foreign automakers

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:20:10 GMT

China is tying its climate agenda more closely to industrial policy. The State Council's newly released Action Plan for Carbon Peaking in the 15th Five-Year Plan sets ambitious targets that could further accelerate domestic new energy vehicle (NEV) adoption while intensifying pressure on foreign automakers.

Aker rides on auto and industrial demand for quartz shipments

Charlene Chen — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:13:26 GMT

Aker said auto and industrial control customer demand drove double-digit revenue growth in the first half of 2026, while AI-related power components also saw a sharp increase in shipments. The quartz component maker said it is also advancing optical communications products, targeting mass production of its 312.5MHz model by year-end and a 625MHz upgrade in 2027.

Tencent seeks control of Manus after China blocks Meta's US$2 billion AI deal

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 05:58:59 GMT

Tencent is in talks to become the largest shareholder in Manus, leading a proposed buyback of the AI agent startup after Chinese regulators ordered Meta Platforms to unwind its US$2 billion acquisition.

MiniMax bets US$2 billion on AI infrastructure as lock-up selloff deepens its split with Z.ai

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 05:51:26 GMT

Chinese artificial-intelligence developer MiniMax is raising HK$16 billion (approx. US$2.04 billion) through a share placement and convertible bonds to accelerate spending on AI infrastructure and large-model development, pressing ahead with its most capital-intensive phase even as its Hong Kong-listed stock slides and a lock-up expiry unleashes fresh selling. The move underscores how far MiniMax's fortunes have diverged from those of rival Zhipu, the other big Chinese AI name to list in Hong Kong this year.

Chiayi Science Park Phase 2 breaks ground for advanced packaging hub

Charlene Chen — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:47:42 GMT

The second phase of Chiayi Science Park has officially broken ground on a site of about 90 hectares, with TSMC leading the development of an industrial cluster centered on advanced packaging. The expansion is meant to meet surging global demand for high-compute chips and advanced packaging technology.

Samsung targets 2029 Yongin fab opening as infrastructure timetable tightens

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:43:05 GMT

Samsung Electronics plans to begin operations at its first Yongin fab in 2029, one to two years ahead of the original schedule, increasing pressure on South Korea to accelerate the power, water and site development needed to support the expansion.

Meta, MediaTek, TSMC push AI chips to challenge Google

Charlene Chen — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:39:20 GMT

Chip industry sources said Meta's cloud AI chip procurement could soon catch up with Google or Amazon AWS among the four major cloud service providers. Qualcomm and Broadcom are expected to remain key partners and beneficiaries, while Arm is also involved, and MediaTek is described as a clear partner among Taiwanese IC design houses.

Leadsun pursues strategic partnerships as Xiangyin targets top-tier power retail status

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:10:54 GMT

Taiwanese renewable energy developer Leadsun Greentech said that as global supply chains continue to move toward net-zero carbon emissions and RE100 commitments, and Taiwan's semiconductor and high-tech industries actively expand, green electricity has become a critical resource for corporate growth.

Trans-Sun Materials posts record revenue on AI server and HPC demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:03:21 GMT

Trans-Sun Materials Technology posted record revenue for June, the second quarter and the first half of 2026, supported by rising demand for AI servers and high-performance computing (HPC) applications. June consolidated revenue rose 40.83% year on year to NT$163 million (US$5.43 million), second-quarter revenue increased 28.22% to NT$441 million, and first-half revenue climbed 28.43% to NT$820 million, all record highs for their respective periods.

Huawei reportedly backs 12-inch DRAM fab to reduce memory dependence

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:50:17 GMT

Huawei is reportedly partnering with Chinese DRAM maker Shenzhen Shengweixu Technology (SwaySure) and the Chinese government to build a state-backed 12-inch memory fabrication plant in Shenzhen, a move aimed at easing DRAM shortages while reducing reliance on overseas suppliers amid continued US export controls.

Applied Materials India eyes larger role in global chip equipment development

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:47:44 GMT

Applied Materials India is preparing to take on broader ownership of selected semiconductor equipment product initiatives, as the US-based chipmaking equipment supplier expands its R&D and validation base in Bengaluru.

AI, LEO, and broadband upgrades lift Taiwan networking makers

Rodney Chan — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:32:10 GMT

Taiwan networking equipment makers posted strong results in June 2026, with rising demand for AI data center expansions, high-speed switches, and broadband network upgrades driving several companies to record-high monthly revenues. Some also set new quarterly and first-half records, as the market expects momentum to continue in the second half.

US chip factory buildout faces possible delays as labor shortage nears 157,000 by 2030

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:28:13 GMT

A shortage of skilled workers could slow construction of new US semiconductor plants, raise costs, and limit chip output for global markets, according to a new report. The findings suggest the manufacturing push backed by Washington's CHIPS Act may depend on sustained funding and closer industry cooperation to avoid bottlenecks.

Exclusive: China's notebook ODMs are closing in fast on Taiwan's manufacturing crown

Levi Li — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:25:41 GMT

Notebook ODMs enjoyed stronger-than-seasonal demand in the first half of 2026, but the traditional peak season is losing momentum. Shipments are expected to decline sequentially from the third quarter, while component suppliers increasingly view 2026 as a turning point in the global notebook supply chain.

CPO mass production accelerates new four-stage test equipment market

Lily Hess — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:15:38 GMT

AI-driven demand is accelerating the shift of co-packaged optics (CPO) from technology validation to mass production, triggering a new wave of equipment demand. Companies including FormFactor, Advantest, Tokyo Electron (TEL), Teradyne, MPI, Keysight, Anritsu, ficonTEC, ADS Tech (ADST), All Ring Tech, GMT Global, Chroma ATE, Hon Precision, and WinWay Technology are rushing to secure a foothold in the emerging "four-stage optoelectronic testing" market.

Nanya lifts long-term capacity to 50%, eyes 4x capex in 2027

Charlene Chen — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:07:20 GMT

Memory chipmaker Nanya said its second-quarter 2026 operations hit a record high, with President Pei-Ing Lee saying signed long- and short-term agreements now account for 50% of total capacity. He said the memory market has entered a broad shortage, and that Nanya may add a fifth strategic partner, while 2027 capital expenditure could climb to as much as NT$200 billion (approx. US$6.2 billion), 4x the spending in 2026.

Infineon urges TSMC to consider a second Dresden fab as demand outlook evolves

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:03:46 GMT

A push by Infineon for TSMC to expand further in Dresden could reshape Europe's role in advanced chipmaking and ripple through the supply chains of automakers, industrial firms, and device makers worldwide. The remarks also hint at how shifting global demand could influence where next-generation semiconductors get built.

Apple reportedly accelerates AI chip roadmap as next-gen Macs prioritize neural processing

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:54:30 GMT

Apple is reshaping its Mac chip roadmap to prioritize AI, accelerating development of future processors as the company seeks to strengthen its position in the AI era.

Weekly news roundup: TSMC widens AI chip lead as HBM and CoWoS bottlenecks reshape supply chains

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:48:44 GMT

AI demand is still outrunning advanced semiconductor capacity, putting foundry output, HBM supply, packaging and server infrastructure at the centre of this week's tech agenda.

China's Nvidia H200 pivot reveals why CUDA still rules AI

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:46:35 GMT

China is preparing to allow a limited number of Nvidia H200 AI accelerators into the country, giving Alibaba, ByteDance, and DeepSeek access to advanced computing power while preserving Beijing's broader campaign for semiconductor self-reliance.

Nvidia's HVDC shift could reshape data center power chains worldwide

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:25:13 GMT

Nvidia's move toward high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power systems for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers could alter how global servers are built and powered. The shift aims to cut energy losses and improve efficiency, but it also raises questions about safety, design, and the supply chain that may determine which technologies gain the fastest adoption.

India opens first CMP pad technology hub in Hyderabad

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:09:20 GMT

India's first Chemical Mechanical Polishing pad technology hub could help reshape semiconductor supply chains far beyond the country. The new Hyderabad facility aims to build local chipmaking capabilities, reduce dependence on imports, and deepen India's role in a sector that supports electronics production worldwide, from phones to data centers.

Taiwan's Jiin Ming joins Japan-Ukraine Drone Cluster talks on drone systems

Eifeh Strom — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:03:43 GMT

Taiwanese drone manufacturer Jiin Ming Industry attended the launch press conference for the Japan-Ukraine Drone Cluster (JUDC) at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ) in Tokyo. This marks the company's latest step in expanding its international footprint following its entry into the European market.

Europe, UK, and US financial sectors respond differently as advanced AI reshapes industry and regulation

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 01:56:42 GMT

Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a growing focus for financial regulators and technology companies across Europe, the UK, and the US, with authorities placing increasing attention on cybersecurity, consumer protection, and industry expansion.

MediaTek revenue beat lifts second-quarter outlook as seasonal demand builds

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:08:22 GMT

MediaTek reported June 2026 revenue of NT$58.012 billion (US$1.81 billion), up 22.30% month over month and 2.80% year over year, and said second-quarter revenue reached NT$152.183 billion. The Taiwan chip designer's result came in above the top end of its forecast, reinforcing expectations for seasonal growth in the second half of the year.

KYEC approves US$1.4 billion US plant to expand chip testing capacity

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:06:58 GMT

King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) approved a US plant investment of up to US$1.4 billion, or about NT$44.9 billion, on July 10 as the US continued pushing to expand domestic chip manufacturing. The semiconductor testing company said the project would be its largest overseas expansion and was aimed at addressing a growing US gap in backend packaging and testing capacity.

Acer posts 13-year second-quarter revenue high on PC and diversified growth

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:06:14 GMT

Acer reported June consolidated revenue of NT$27.818 billion (US$864.8 million), up 6.3% from May, as the Taiwanese PC maker posted its strongest second-quarter revenue in 13 years. Second-quarter consolidated revenue reached NT$85.296 billion, rising 28.2% year on year, while first-half revenue climbed 23.3% to NT$157.727 billion.

India roundup: India's chip strategy tests its ability to build a competitive ecosystem

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:54:11 GMT

India is moving from semiconductor planning to execution, using funding, tariff changes, foreign investment approvals, and regional development efforts to build a broader electronics ecosystem beyond assembly.

SuperAlloy revenue climbs on recycled aluminum and semiconductor certification progress

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:53:25 GMT

SuperAlloy Industrial posted June consolidated revenue of NT$749 million (US$23.36 million), up 17.93% from May and 21.46% from a year earlier. The Taiwan-based materials maker said the increase helped lift second-quarter 2026 revenue to NT$1.98 billion, a 15.45% rise from a year earlier, while first-half 2026 revenue reached NT$3.852 billion, up 6.02%.

Sitronix sees zero-capacitance TDDI and automotive DDI drive growth

Lily Hess — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:52:54 GMT

Sitronix Technology said this week that zero-capacitance touch with display driver integration (TDDI) and automotive display drive IC (DDI) will drive its growth in 2026, as the chipmaker reported strong June and second-quarter revenue and said demand should remain positive into the second half of the year.

AI buildouts accelerate MLCC shortages; Taiwan firms eye 2H26 spillover orders

Lily Hess — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:52:22 GMT

As AI server supply chains move into the component stocking phase, the market for high-end passive components has heated up sharply, with tight supply of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) drawing close attention across the industry. Taiwan passive-component makers posted strong revenue in the second quarter of 2026, and with order backlogs at major MLCC suppliers in Japan and South Korea rising rapidly, Taiwan firms are expected to capture spillover orders from AI server applications in the second half of the year.

Trio revenue rises on AI server battery backup demand in June

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:51:55 GMT

Trio Technology said June 2026 revenue rebounded on stronger stocking demand for battery backup units used in AI servers, even as the broader second quarter remained pressured by tight global memory supply. The Taiwan-based supplier also said downstream notebook and PC customers kept some inventory restocking demand in play, which pushed part of the consumer electronics shipment schedule into June.

Global defense boom unlocks new paths for automakers

Kevin Wang — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:51:38 GMT

The rise in global defense budgets has led to new opportunities for mainstream automakers as they seek to diversify their operations, yet the move into military and defense-related manufacturing presents another set of hurdles to overcome. These include lengthy certification cycles, highly fragmented specifications, and uncertainties surrounding policy continuity.

SK Hynix hybrid bonding push signals next phase of HBM packaging race

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:51:02 GMT

SK Hynix is moving early to prepare hybrid bonding technology for next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM), as competition in AI memory shifts from stacking capacity toward packaging density, thermal control, and tighter integration with AI accelerators.

Largan ramps variable aperture lens in 3Q as smartphone demand rebounds

Lily Hess — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:50:43 GMT

Optical leader Largan Precision said on July 9 that customer demand for new smartphones is picking up in the second half, while Chairman En-Ping Lin highlighted that strong technology and yield remain the decisive edge in a tougher market. He also said the company's high-end variable aperture lens will ramp in the third quarter, and periscope lens upgrades are set for 2027.

AI shifts toward 'slow thinking' as agent era approaches, says Google DeepMind's VP of research

Scarlett Yu — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:50:24 GMT

Ed Chi, vice president of research at Google DeepMind, said AI's next milestone will be its evolution from the fast, pattern-recognition-oriented thinking associated with System 1 toward the deeper reasoning capabilities of System 2. As large language models evolve into large reasoning models, the industry is now entering a new era of AI agents.

Arm CEO: AI agents to drive CPU demand as infrastructure shifts beyond GPUs

Scarlett Yu — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:49:57 GMT

GPUs have dominated AI infrastructure discussions over the past two years, powering everything from large language model (LLM) training and inference clusters to high-bandwidth memory (HBM), advanced packaging, and liquid-cooled server racks. As the industry races to expand computing capacity, GPUs have largely defined the conversation. That dynamic, however, may be beginning to change as CPUs diverge from the rims of AI narration, and increasingly emerge as a critical component of AI infrastructure.

AI infrastructure demand lifts WPG, WT Microelectronics to record Q2 revenue

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:49:35 GMT

Egis sells part of iCatch stake as ASMedia becomes largest shareholder

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:49:10 GMT

Egis Technology on July 9 said it sold part of its stake in iCatch Technology as part of a routine adjustment to its group equity holdings. The IC design company said the move was intended to improve capital efficiency and optimize its ownership structure, while Egis remained an important shareholder with about 12% of iCatch after the transaction.

Complex Micro Interconnection sees June sales rise as AI-led device demand lifts orders

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:48:52 GMT

Flexible circuit board maker Complex Micro Interconnection (CMI) said June 2026 revenue rebounded as consumer electronics shipments increased, even as shortages in automotive components and notebook memory continued to affect customers. The company also reported second-quarter revenue of NT$597 million (US$18.55 million), up 3.6% from the prior quarter.

ChainSea Information Integration lifts first-half revenue to record on AI customer service demand

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:48:30 GMT

ChainSea Information Integration Information, a digital transformation integration services provider, reported consolidated revenue of NT$622 million (US$19.39 million) in the first half of 2026, up 11.28% year on year and a record for the period. The company said the increase reflected stronger demand from government outsourcing work and enterprise AI customer service applications.

AI era accelerates Foxconn's shift to global 24-hour cybersecurity coverage

Lily Hess — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:48:14 GMT

Foxconn is using AI and coordinated security teams across Asia, Europe and the Americas to defend against cyberattacks as enterprises increasingly adopt AI. Chief Information Security Officer Wei-Bin Lee said that the company's global footprint makes it a prime target.

AI's new gatekeepers: US and China tighten grip on frontier models

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:47:30 GMT

The world's most powerful AI models are encountering a new constraint beyond chips, data and engineering talent: governments increasingly want a say in when frontier systems are released, who may access them and which capabilities should remain restricted.

MA-tek hits record June revenue on rising AI chip testing demand, CPO complexity

Eifeh Strom — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:46:58 GMT

Semiconductor testing company Materials Analysis Technology (MA-tek) reported June 2026 revenue of NT$558 million (approx. US$17.41 million), up 2.56% from May and 11.01% year over year, marking a record high for four consecutive months. Second-quarter 2026 revenue reached NT$1.64 billion, a record high for a single quarter, while first-half 2026 revenue totaled NT$3.07 billion, an increase of 17.47% from the same period in 2025.

Western automakers tap defense manufacturing to absorb idle capacity as military spending surges

Willis Ke — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:46:31 GMT

Global automakers are accelerating their expansion into defense manufacturing as geopolitical tensions fuel record military spending and persistent challenges in the automotive sector leave production capacity underutilized. Industry leaders, including General Motors (GM), Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, and Ford, are leveraging their large-scale manufacturing expertise to tap growing demand for military vehicles, logistics platforms, and defense systems.

Musk assembles Intel, SpaceX talent for Tesla wafer fab ambitions

Levi Li — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:45:59 GMT

Tesla and SpaceX are already converging around chips, talent and manufacturing under Terafab, even before any merger speculation turns into reality.

Column: Steel industry shifts from capacity to performance

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:45:39 GMT

As infrastructure upgrades, rail decarbonization, and the reshaping of critical materials supply chains accelerate, the steel industry is moving away from mass production and into a new competitive stage that combines high-performance materials, smart manufacturing, and low-carbon development. What once centered on capacity, cost, and supply is now defined by material performance, process precision, carbon management, and international certifications.

Infinitix signs Sarawak AI pact to expand Southeast Asia cloud services

DIGITIMES — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:32:51 GMT

Taiwan-based AI infrastructure software provider Infinitix signed a memorandum of understanding with Sarawak Information Systems Sdn. Bhd. (SAINS) to jointly promote AI infrastructure, GPU private cloud and AI cloud services in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia. The agreement was announced as both sides outlined plans to build a sovereign AI and AI Cloud ecosystem centered on a new computing model called a Token Factory.