DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

BBU demand lifts Taiwanese battery module makers as AI server adoption expands

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:39:24 GMT

Battery backup (BBU) module demand from AI servers continued to rise in June, supporting revenue growth at Taiwanese suppliers AES-KY, Simplo Technology and STL. These companies have also been expanding capacity to meet customer orders, with additional output expected to support further business growth.

Sysgration says drone and IPC sales will drive 2H26 growth

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:39:05 GMT

Sysgration said June 2026 revenue remained relatively high even after a slight decline from May, supported by shipments of industrial PCs and drone flight-control products. The company said expanding drone applications, along with ramp-ups in new products including ground control stations and battery backup units, should help sustain operating momentum in the second half of 2026.

Lenovo confirms YMTC SSDs in notebooks sold outside China

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:38:34 GMT

Lenovo confirmed that some notebooks sold outside China now use solid-state drives from Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC), marking the first known appearance of the Chinese memory maker's SSDs in an overseas Lenovo model. The move comes as global PC makers face tighter NAND flash supply and higher prices.

Fulltech's Thailand plant targets AI and satellite demand

Charlene Chen — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:38:11 GMT

Fulltech held the groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of its new Thailand plant on July 5, 2026, with chairman Yuan-Pin Chang saying the project will require about NT$3.1 billion (approx. US$96.8 million) in total investment and that production capacity has already been fully booked by customers. The plant is scheduled to begin mass production in the third quarter of 2027.

Chicony Electronics reports June revenue gain as AI PC demand builds

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:37:57 GMT

Chicony Electronics said June 2026 revenue rose on quarter-end pull-in demand, with power supply products leading the increase. The Taiwanese electronics supplier said the mix of higher-end PC shipments and stronger customer demand helped lift results even as the broader PC market remained under pressure.

JLC revenue climbs 40% as Taiwan's circular economy law takes effect

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:37:41 GMT

JLC reported a sharp rise in June revenue after Taiwan's Resource Circularity Promotion Act took effect, while the lead-acid battery recycler also benefited from early investment in process technology, tax incentives and ESG-linked positioning. The company said stronger downstream demand helped lift revenue more than 40% from May.

Sercomm posts record second-quarter revenue as AI boosts broadband demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:37:23 GMT

Sercomm reported record June 2026 revenue of NT$7.27 billion, up 12.2% from May and 70.8% from a year earlier, as AI-related network traffic and broadband infrastructure upgrades lifted demand. The telecom broadband equipment maker said the strong performance also pushed second-quarter and first-half revenue to all-time highs.

SK data center bet sets sights on intelligence exports

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:37:04 GMT

South Korea is moving to position itself as an exporter of "intelligence" rather than just the chips and equipment that go into building it, with SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won outlining an AI data center plan expected to involve more than KRW1,000 trillion (approx. US$652.7 billion) in investment, according to Hankyung.

Apple foldable to lift OLED TDDI demand

Charlene Chen — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:36:26 GMT

While the overall mobile market outlook for the second half of 2026 is not especially strong, foldable phones are drawing attention because Apple's first foldable phone is finally expected to arrive. Industry watchers broadly believe the move will inject fresh momentum into the foldable phone market, with Samsung Electronics, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, and other Android brands also expected to join the broader discussion around the segment.

Texas emerges as frontrunner for Taiwan firms racing to pick an overseas science park

Kevin Wang — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:36:08 GMT

Amid ever-shifting geopolitical concerns and a US$50 billion injection from the CHIPS and Science Act to revitalize domestic semiconductor production, a new round of competition has arisen across the US to attract investment. For Taiwan's electronics sector, the question is no longer whether to invest in the US, but which state to choose.

AI lifts high-voltage prices as bubble fears return

Charlene Chen — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:35:47 GMT

AI demand and capacity crowd-out effects are driving higher prices and volumes for high-voltage products, according to IC distributors, who say early pull-ins and price negotiations have become the market norm. But as concerns over an AI bubble resurface, some industry players warn that if a profitable AI business model does not emerge soon, the sector may not even make it to the ninth inning.

Ingenic says DRAM foundry capacity strain won't ease until 2H27

Charlene Chen — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:35:24 GMT

China memory makers are diverging in their outlook as AI demand keeps the global memory market tight. After GigaDevice recently issued an unusual risk warning, Beijing-based special memory and embedded processor maker Ingenic said global DRAM foundry capacity remains broadly constrained and is unlikely to improve before the second half of 2027.

6G base stations to become AI computing nodes, boosting advanced packaging demand

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:35:07 GMT

While there are still years to go for the commercialization of 6G adoption, the next-generation mobile network architecture is increasingly poised to take shape.

Schaeffler seeks new growth from defense and aerospace as Tier 1 transformation accelerates

Rodney Chan — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:34:03 GMT

Global automotive Tier 1 suppliers are speeding up cross-industry transformation as the car sector's shift puts pressure on long-term growth, and Schaeffler is expanding beyond auto parts into humanoid robots, defense, and aerospace to find fresh momentum.

Interview: Corning's GlassBridge points to longer-term packaging shifts, not an immediate FAU replacement

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:33:39 GMT

Corning has unveiled an early-stage fiber-to-chip connector concept that could reshape optical packaging if it matures, though the company says the technology is still far from commercial use. GlassBridge is aimed at passive alignment in advanced systems, underscoring the convergence of AI infrastructure, photonics, and packaging.

Memory prices rebound as supply tightens, with global buyers facing higher costs

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:33:07 GMT

Global markets are likely to feel the effects of a renewed rise in memory prices, as tighter supply and early inventory buying lift DRAM and NAND prices again in mid-June 2026. The trend could ripple through smartphones, PCs, and servers, while Apple's possible sourcing shifts may influence pricing across the wider semiconductor industry.

AI and robots force an auto industry reckoning: gradual gains, or all-out disruption

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 23:32:28 GMT

AI and robotics are moving from pilot projects to factory floors worldwide, but adoption remains uneven. Humanoid robots draw the headlines, yet most manufacturers still favor task-specific tools, digital twins, and collaborative machines that promise steadier gains in efficiency, safety, and precision across global supply chains.

UMC posts record first-half revenue and plans selective price hikes in second half

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 10:05:10 GMT

United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) reported its strongest quarterly run in years as mature-process demand and factory utilization improved. June consolidated revenue reached NT$23.12 billion, up 0.8% from May and 22.85% year-on-year — a 44-month high. Second-quarter revenue climbed to NT$68.73 billion, up 12.61% sequentially and 16.98% year-on-year, the highest level in 15 quarters.

FCC rule change drives Sporton to a three-year revenue high

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 08:50:18 GMT

Sporton, a high-end testing services provider, reported June 2026 revenue of NT$417 million (US$13.05 million), up 0.5% from the previous month and 12.7% from a year earlier. The increase was driven by order transfers tied to new US regulations, and second-quarter revenue reached about NT$1.242 billion, the company’s highest quarterly level in three years.

Samsung Foundry comeback builds as Meta, Anthropic weigh chip deals

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 08:27:12 GMT

Samsung Electronics is trying to turn its foundry business into a bigger supplier of custom chips, with Meta Platforms and Anthropic reportedly considering Samsung for processors after its Tesla win, according to Seoul Economic Daily. The potential orders could push Samsung Foundry toward profitability sooner than expected, with industry sources estimating its medium- to long-term order backlog could approach KRW50 trillion (approx. US$32.64 billion).

Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron face HBM4 race as custom chip demand grows

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMT

The global high-bandwidth memory market is expected to pivot from HBM3E to HBM4 in the second half of 2026, setting up a sharper contest for market share among Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology.

Anthropic's reported chip plans with Samsung could ease inference costs, not chase top-end performance

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 07:38:26 GMT

Anthropic's reported move into in-house chip development could matter well beyond Silicon Valley if it helps lower the cost of running AI services worldwide. By prioritizing cheaper inference rather than elite performance, the startup may be signaling a more pragmatic path that could influence how global AI systems are built and priced.

Jim Keller startup Fab2 targets small-fab mass production

Charlene Chen — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 07:31:08 GMT

Atomic Semi, the semiconductor equipment startup founded by chip architect Jim Keller, has rebranded as Fab2 and moved its headquarters to Austin, Texas, with a vision of mass-producing small fabs. According to Tom's Hardware, Fab2's core idea is a "fab fab": it designs and builds all of its own equipment, from pumps, valves, and gas lines to lithography tools and vacuum chambers, then assembles the components into machines and the machines into a complete fab.

Taiwan drone makers gain as Europe focuses on trust and supply chain resilience

Lily Hess — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 07:28:39 GMT

Global drone demand continues to heat up, and Taiwanese manufacturers are aggressively expanding overseas. Industry players say the market's most urgent focus has shifted from price and delivery time to competition among trusted supply chains.

Chicony Power June revenue rises on pull-forward demand and server power sales

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 07:16:27 GMT

Chicony Power Technology said June 2026 revenue rebounded to NT$3.099 billion (US$96.52 million), topping the NT$3 billion mark as deferred orders and quarter-end pull-in demand lifted shipments. The Taiwan-based power supply maker also said the monthly result came in stronger than market expectations.

LG Chem begins first mass supply of semiconductor strippers to Amkor

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 06:57:32 GMT

LG Chem has begun supplying semiconductor strippers to Amkor Technology, a major US-based packaging and testing provider, in its first commercial move into the market. The deal highlights rising demand for advanced chip-making chemicals as artificial intelligence, high-bandwidth memory, and smaller device designs reshape global semiconductor manufacturing.

Foxconn posts NT$821.8 billion June revenue as AI momentum stays strong

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 06:56:44 GMT

Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) reported consolidated revenue for June 2026 on July 5, with continued demand for AI servers and cloud networking products driving record performance. Revenue for June, the second quarter, and the first half of 2026 all reached record highs for the corresponding periods.

Longsys forecasts sharp 1H26 profit growth on stronger memory market, AI demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 06:54:19 GMT

Longsys Electronics expects a sharp rise in first-half profit as global memory supply stays tight and demand from artificial intelligence-related devices strengthens. The outlook points to firmer conditions across the semiconductor market, with implications for storage prices, component availability, and technology costs worldwide.

Apple price hikes spur brisk used-device trading

Charlene Chen — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 06:40:37 GMT

Apple's recent price increases for Mac and iPad products are rapidly spilling into the used-device market, as consumers turn to refurbished and secondhand channels to fight inflation. Data from Chinese secondhand trading platforms show that some MacBook models have risen by nearly CNY1,000 (US$147.29) within just 10 days, signaling a new round of price swings in the end-user market.

Kingboard raises CCL prices again as AI demand tightens PCB material supply

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 05:53:31 GMT

Rising demand for AI servers and high-performance computing (HPC) continues to drive price increases across the upstream PCB materials supply chain.

Foreign automakers turn China plants into export hubs as Toyota takes slower path

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 04:46:12 GMT

Foreign automakers are rapidly reshaping their China operations into export platforms as local electric-vehicle (EV) makers continue to erode demand for gasoline cars. For global consumers and suppliers, the shift could affect vehicle prices, parts flows, and where future models are designed, built, and sold across major markets.

China's IC design boom nears CNY1 trillion, but Nvidia CUDA gap exposes limits

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 04:26:33 GMT

China's IC design industry is nearing CNY1 trillion (approx. US$150 billion) ahead of schedule, but AI is exposing deeper gaps in computing architecture, high-end talent, and ecosystem control.

South Korea's chip hub push, led by Samsung, SK, draws KRW896 trillion — and a market selloff

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 04:23:28 GMT

SK Group, Samsung Electronics, and Amkor will invest a combined KRW896 trillion (US$585.2 billion) to build South Korea's second major semiconductor production base in the country's southwest, the industry ministry said.

South Korea lines up US$204 billion Yeongnam manufacturing push

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 04:16:12 GMT

South Korean conglomerates will invest a combined KRW312 trillion (approx. US$203.6 billion) in the Yeongnam region, as the government moves to turn the country's southeast into a hub for advanced manufacturing, AI infrastructure, semiconductors, aerospace, defense, and energy.

South Korea weighs longer hours for chip R&D in new tech zones

DIGITIMES — Mon, 6 Jul 2026 04:13:08 GMT

South Korea is considering exempting research and development personnel from the country's 52-hour workweek limit inside proposed Mega Special Zones. These would include a planned second semiconductor cluster in the southwestern Honam region.