DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

SK Hynix reportedly held U.S. talks on HBM supply and local investment plans

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 03:23:13 GMT

SK Hynix is reported to have held a private meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Allison Hooker, with industry sources speculating the discussions covered high-bandwidth memory cooperation with major U.S. technology firms and potential semiconductor investment expansion.

EU fast-tracks US tariff deal, adds three Trump safeguards

Lily Hess — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 03:23:02 GMT

The European Union has rushed through a US-EU tariff agreement after US President Donald Trump demanded that Brussels complete the deal by July 4, the 250th anniversary of US independence, or face higher 25% tariffs on auto and auto parts imports. According to media reports, the European Parliament recently held an emergency vote to approve the agreement, while the EU simultaneously added three safeguards to guard against the risk of renewed tariff hikes.

GBC returns to capital markets with three technology platforms

Lily Hess — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 03:22:44 GMT

General Biologicals (GBC) held its shareholders' meeting on the 17th, saying the group is moving from restructuring into scaled, international growth. The precision medicine company is betting on clear long-term demand in global precision medicine, smart healthcare, and regenerative medicine as it expands its CLIA/AIO systems, circulating tumor cell (CTC) testing technology, Oh care brand, and overseas footprint.

Cornelis-powered Lynx supercomputer enters service at LLNL, expanding NNSA computing capacity

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:54:27 GMT

Cornelis Networks has announced the successful deployment of the Lynx supercomputing cluster at the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, marking a significant milestone for the company's CN5000 Omni-Path networking platform and the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Commodity Technology Systems (CTS-2) program.

China chip supply chain feels squeeze from AI server MLCCs to 8-bit MCUs

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:54:04 GMT

China's semiconductor supply chain is showing fresh signs of pricing strain, with microcontroller unit (MCU) makers and passive component suppliers facing rising costs, tighter capacity, and surging demand from AI servers.

Singapore becomes a startup melting pot— who's coming, who's staying, and why

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:53:50 GMT

Plug and Play's Wayne Soh on the shifting flows of Chinese, Indian, and Taiwanese founders through the city-state.

Commentary: G7 AI fight moves to who controls frontier model access

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:53:31 GMT

The G7 debate over AI has moved beyond regulation and safety pledges into a harder fight over frontier model access: who can use the most powerful systems, under what conditions, and whether governments can switch that access off.

Samsung Foundry to make Claros power-management chips for AI data centers

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:52:53 GMT

Samsung Electronics' foundry business has signed a strategic manufacturing collaboration with Claros, a US power-management startup, to produce semiconductors designed to cut energy waste inside AI data centers, according to a Claros announcement and a report by ZDNet Korea.

Apple to work with Intel on US chip design and manufacturing, Trump says

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:52:39 GMT

US President Donald Trump said on June 18 that Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and manufacture chips in the US, a claim he made in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Nvidia leads China assisted-driving chip market; Horizon Robotics rises to second

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:52:23 GMT

China's assisted-driving chip market is becoming more concentrated, with Nvidia leading in assisted-driving domain controller chip installations and Horizon Robotics emerging as the strongest domestic supplier, according to April 2026 passenger-vehicle data.

Kioxia keeps NAND capex in check as AI inference reshapes SSD demand

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:51:24 GMT

Kioxia, one of the world's major NAND flash memory suppliers, is prioritizing long-term agreements (LTAs), BiCS migration, and domestic fab efficiency over aggressive capacity expansion, signaling a more disciplined approach to the AI storage cycle.

Research Insight: Fukuta expands small power modules as drones and robot dogs drive growth

Charlene Chen — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:51:03 GMT

As global EV market growth slows, motor makers that once relied on EV power systems are moving faster to find new growth engines. Fukuta has extended its accumulated design, integration, and manufacturing capabilities in automotive all-in-one power systems into miniaturized power module applications such as drones and quadruped robot dogs, reflecting a broader shift in resource allocation amid cooling EV growth.

Interview: Oppstar grows ASIC design ties with Japan, South Korea clientele, plans Taiwan office

Charlene Chen — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:50:46 GMT

Founded in 2014, Oppstar is one of the few Malaysian companies operating at the front end of the semiconductor value chain as an IC design house. The company was established by three founders with extensive experience in the IC design industry: Meng Thai Ng, Hun Wah Cheah, and Chun Chiat Tan. Headquartered in Bayan Lepas, Penang, Oppstar opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2022. From its inception, the company positioned itself as a one-stop IC design service provider, initially focusing on 16nm design nodes.

Df-OS targets traceability gap in India's electronics manufacturing

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:50:24 GMT

India's air-conditioner supply chain may be becoming an early test case for a broader electronics manufacturing challenge: how to trace products, components, process data, and defects across high-volume production networks.

AI test demand drives broad recovery among Taiwan's semiconductor equipment suppliers in May

DIGITIMES — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 02:46:36 GMT

Taiwan's semiconductor equipment, components, and solutions providers posted robust revenue growth through the first five months of 2026, with 34 of 43 tracked companies reporting positive accumulated year-on-year figures.

Elon Musk aims for record maximum usable compute per wafer for AI6 chip

Emily Kuo — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:51:20 GMT

Following the announcement in April 2026 that the AI5 chip design had been finalized, Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced a new benchmark, stating that under yield considerations, the AI6 chip is expected to set a new record for maximum usable computing power per wafer.

Smart glasses race pulls Taiwan and China optical suppliers into waveguide battle

Levi Li — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:43:03 GMT

Smart glasses shipments are rising steadily, making the category one of the most closely watched consumer electronics growth drivers after notebooks and smartphones. Taiwanese optical suppliers entered the field early, while leading Chinese optical makers are also moving to capture the opportunity.

AI data center boom drives Taiwan passive component makers to record sales

Levi Li — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:38:52 GMT

Demand in the passive components market is recovering significantly, lifting operating momentum at Taiwan's two leading suppliers, Yageo and Walsin Technology. Average book-to-bill ratios at both companies have risen above 1.3, placing industry conditions near their highest levels in recent years and reinforcing expectations for sequential growth through 2026.

SiC cuts AI data center costs; 5% efficiency gain saves US$5 billion

Charlene Chen — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:38:49 GMT

Power is now compute, and it is becoming a major driver of AI data center build costs. Renesas technical director Mu-Sen Lin said traditional data centers rely on low-voltage AC (LVAC), long wiring runs, and repeated AC-to-DC conversions through uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, reducing energy transmission efficiency.

Foxconn chairman maps out Taiwan's global AI and manufacturing expansion strategy

Charlene Chen — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:36:49 GMT

Taiwan's electronics industry is stepping up its global ambitions as AI, data center infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing reshape supply chains. Speaking at the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) on June 18, 2026, Foxconn chairman and Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) chairman Young Liu outlined a strategy that combines overseas industrial parks, AI-driven transformation and next-generation factory automation.

NIO founder warns China's auto market could shrink by 20% this year

Lily Hess — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:30:16 GMT

Nio founder and chairman William Li warned at the 2026 China Auto Chongqing Summit that China's auto industry has entered its "most brutal final stage," saying 2026 passenger-vehicle retail sales in China could fall 15% to 20% from last year. He urged the industry to prepare early as the Chinese new energy vehicle market enters a more severe phase of competition.

Darwin organ chip joins Nvidia AI medical push

Charlene Chen — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:24:38 GMT

Backlight module maker Darwin held its shareholders' meeting on June 17, 2026, and said it remains cautiously optimistic about 2026 revenue as its new businesses continue to gain traction. The company cited fresh commercial display orders in the US market and said organ-chip partner Anivance AI is also listed on an "Nvidia backdrop," adding momentum to its medical technology push.

Panjit ramps investment in AI and automotive as book-to-bill rises to 1.5

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:22:25 GMT

Panjit International announced at its shareholders' meeting on June 18 that it will pursue a "dual-engine" growth strategy focused on automotive and artificial intelligence as demand in both sectors accelerates, backed by a capital investment target of more than NT$10 billion over the next five years.

Imec, Sony unveil backside interconnect method for 3D chip stacking

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:10:58 GMT

Imec and Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony) have jointly presented a new integration method for connecting the front and back sides of semiconductor wafers, a step the two organizations say could support future 3D chip-stacking designs for logic and memory devices.

Tim Cook says Apple price hikes are unavoidable as AI squeezes memory supply

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:34 GMT

In an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook made an unusually blunt admission. The company is preparing to raise product prices because memory and storage costs have surged to a point Apple can no longer absorb. He said Apple has spent the past stretch trying to shield customers from these cost increases, but the situation has become "unsustainable."

Japan lasers in on India's Assam state for chip and infrastructure corridor

Levi Li — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:56:01 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to visit Assam in northeastern India in early July 2026. According to Nikkei, more than 50 Japanese companies and business groups, including Suzuki, Itochu and Toyota Tsusho, are expected to accompany the delegation, with market attention focused on cooperation in semiconductors and infrastructure.

China Airlines cuts cargo fuel surcharges after oil prices ease on US-Iran deal

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:46:31 GMT

China Airlines will lower cargo fuel surcharges from July 1 after international oil prices eased following a US-Iran memorandum signed June 17 that raised prospects for renewed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

BMW opens Neue Klasse reservations early; car business margin forecast unexpectedly cut in half

Emily Kuo — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:41:59 GMT

Although BMW's Neue Klasse BEV lineup is receiving strong market feedback and demand, it is also facing challenges due to weakness in the Chinese auto market and the conflict in the Middle East. It has lowered its financial outlook, cutting its automotive business margin forecast from the original 4-6% range to 1-3%.

AI chip boom strains probe card supply, Taiwan test interface maker weighs prepayment deals

Levi Li — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 05:57:17 GMT

MPI Corporation, a major probe card supplier, said AI demand is tightening supply across the probe card market and extending order visibility, with the company considering a prepayment mechanism to guarantee customers priority access to capacity.

Unitree IPO tests China's bet on low-cost humanoid robots

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:24:58 GMT

Unitree Robotics is heading toward a Shanghai listing with a pitch drawing attention well beyond China: humanoid robots can be built cheaply enough, and at enough scale, to begin taking on narrow labor tasks.

SpaceX acquires Cursor to bolster xAI and court AI developers

Lily Hess — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:20:17 GMT

SpaceX has agreed to acquire AI coding tool developer Cursor for US$60 billion, in a deal that underscores how competition in the AI industry is extending beyond foundation models into the application layer and developer ecosystems. The purchase gives SpaceX direct access to enterprise customers, developer communities, and high-value code data instead of rebuilding a product from scratch. Markets see it as a key addition to Elon Musk's AI strategy.

Exclusive: Winbond NOR flash reportedly enters Nvidia supply chain

Charlene Chen — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:14:01 GMT

Winbond's NOR flash has reportedly entered Nvidia's supply chain for the first time, as AI server demand drives a surge in memory consumption and Nvidia's next-generation Vera Rubin platform prepares for volume shipments in the second half of 2026. Industry sources said Winbond will align NOR flash shipments with customer rollout schedules and is expected to win a major share on the Vera Rubin platform.

G7 AI talks reveal trust gap behind US model power

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:06:53 GMT

The world's most powerful AI companies entered the G7 summit in France this week with a message for democratic governments: frontier AI needs global rules, but those rules are increasingly being shaped by US strategic interests.

Samsung, SK Hynix weigh first chip packaging plants in South Korea's Honam region

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:52:49 GMT

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are each reviewing locations in South Korea's Honam region for new semiconductor packaging plants, according to The Elec and Hankyung, citing industry sources, as the two companies look for ways to add back-end capacity beyond their existing manufacturing hubs.

Mirle Automation names CEO as chair

Charlene Chen — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:16:25 GMT

Mirle Automation announced that chairman Houng Sun will step down and hand the role to chief executive officer Shih-Tung Lin, as the automation equipment maker moves to strengthen long-term development and leadership succession. Sun will remain on the board and has also been named honorary chairman.