DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Kioxia surpasses Toyota, eyes M&A push in face of AI boom

Scarlett Yu — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:28:39 GMT

NAND flash memory supplier Kioxia Holdings has surpassed Toyota Motor in market capitalisation, becoming Japan's most valuable company. The development highlights how the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom is reshaping Japan's corporate landscape.

Samsung reportedly deepens foundry ties with Elon Musk's companies as turnaround timeline pushes toward 2028

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:24:22 GMT

Samsung Electronics' foundry business is reportedly expanding its strategic relationship with companies led by Elon Musk, with cooperation now spanning electric vehicles and emerging neurotechnology, according to Hankyung reporting.

South Korea launches ultra-innovation economy push with major investment in next-generation power semiconductors

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:17:25 GMT

South Korea has begun planning a large-scale research and development program for next-generation power semiconductors as part of its broader "Ultra-Innovation Economy Project," according to a report by the Seoul Economic Daily.

Supply security over cost: Google leads CSP charge to diversify InP substrate sourcing

Lily Hess — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:59:17 GMT

China has recently eased controls on some indium phosphide (InP) substrates, relieving a bottleneck in optical communications capacity for the second half of the year. But supply chain players say the long-term priority is still to expand substrate capacity from non-China sources, with supply security for the AI industry outweighing price.

TSMC PLP timeline faces skepticism from Taiwan industry sources

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:47:10 GMT

A South Korean media report claiming TSMC is preparing to launch panel-level packaging at mass-production scale as early as 2027 has drawn skepticism from Taiwan industry sources, who say the timeline is likely premature and that the company remains focused on evaluating multiple advanced-packaging options.

Taiwan drones advance to Green UAS certification, accelerate US market push

Rodney Chan — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:37:34 GMT

Taiwan's drone industry is set for a major milestone in the second half of 2026, as the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has secured qualification from the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) to serve as a Green UAS certification body. The move is expected to accelerate certification for complete drones and components, helping local suppliers enter the US and global markets faster.

Salesforce agrees to buy Fin in US$3.6 billion AI customer service deal

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:29:20 GMT

Salesforce has agreed to acquire Fin, a customer agent company formerly known as Intercom, in a deal that could reshape how businesses worldwide automate support. The purchase highlights growing competition in AI-driven service tools, with implications for companies seeking faster responses, lower costs, and broader deployment across global customer channels.

Nvidia reportedly tightens grip on AI inference market despite growing competition

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:19:02 GMT

Nvidia's dominance in AI is extending beyond model training and deeper into inference—the fast-growing segment of the AI market responsible for running deployed models and generating revenue.

3Q26 LCD TV panel market cools as small sizes lead decline

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:10:54 GMT

Global LCD TV panel prices have entered a new round of adjustment after the FIFA World Cup and China's 618 Shopping Festival stocking demand faded, with 32-inch and 43-inch panels leading declines in June. The shift signals a cyclical turning point with broad implications for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers worldwide.

Commentary: AI memory boom turns WF6 squeeze into an opening for CXMT

Levi Li — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:07:21 GMT

The semiconductor supply chain is facing another raw material shock — this time from tungsten hexafluoride, or WF6, a specialty gas used in chip manufacturing. Planned production adjustments or exits by some Japanese suppliers in the second half of 2026 have intensified concerns over tighter global supply, sending prices sharply higher and raising the risk of disruption into 2027.

AT&S to invest up to EUR2 billion in Malaysia to expand AI substrate capacity

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:03:07 GMT

Austria's AT&S plans to invest up to EUR2 billion (approx. US$2.32 billion) to expand its Kulim plant and a previously unused building at the second site in Kulim, Malaysia, as part of a broader push to capitalize on AI demand. The company said the investments will be fully supported and financed by long-term customer commitments, and it expects to represent at least five leading US tech partners.

CATL's Hungary plant set to eclipse Europe's cell production capacity

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:58:17 GMT

Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. announced it would soon begin production at its new Hungary lithium battery plant, a facility with an annual capacity of up to 100 GWh that executives said will be the largest battery factory in Europe. The announcement highlighted a widening gap between Europe's domestic cell output and rising imports, as automakers and specialist makers lack enough local mass-production capacity to meet regional electric vehicle demand.

AI chip race sends WF6 prices soaring after Japan supply shock

Levi Li — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:51:23 GMT

Global expansion in AI chips, advanced logic processes, and multilayer 3D NAND flash memory is driving demand for tungsten hexafluoride (WF6), a critical electronic specialty gas used in semiconductor manufacturing. Limited short-term supply additions and low industry inventories are widening the supply-demand gap, triggering a rapid price increase.

Adani-Jabil partnership highlights India's push for domestic AI infrastructure

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:26:56 GMT

The deal between Gautam Adani's group and American engineering firm Jabil signals a broader shift toward domestic AI infrastructure in India, with potential consequences for global technology supply chains, foreign cloud dependency, and sovereign technology ambitions. The partnership aims to accelerate capacity, reduce reliance on external providers, and attract investment.

EU industrial bill forces Chinese automakers to race for European factories

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:48:32 GMT

The European Commission proposed an Industrial Acceleration Act to curb foreign direct investment that it says could threaten domestic industry and jobs, and the draft rule prompted Chinese electric vehicle and battery makers to accelerate plans to secure plants in Europe before the law takes effect. The framework would require regulatory approval for investments by firms with more than 40% global market share and for deals above EUR100 million (US$112.10 million), and it set conditions including joint ventures, foreign ownership caps, intellectual property licensing to EU entities, and prioritizing local supply chains.

Tata iPhone components plant faces pollution probe as India supply chain risks rise

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:46:49 GMT

Indian regulators allege wastewater contamination at a key Apple supplier site in Tamil Nadu, raising fresh questions over environmental compliance and the stability of India's fast-expanding iPhone manufacturing ecosystem.

SpaceX's US$2 trillion debut raises questions over AI profits and China supply-chain exposure

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:46:07 GMT

SpaceX's market debut pushes its valuation above US$2 trillion, signaling a mega-cap player in AI, space, and satellite services. Analysts warn the company faces structural questions: whether its AI division can turn a profit and whether its heavy reliance on China's mineral and solar supply chains could curb growth for investors, according to CNBC, WSJ, and Bloomberg.

Foxconn and Schneider Electric strike strategic partnership to build next-generation data center reference architecture

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:45:32 GMT

Foxconn and Schneider Electric announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop a next-generation data center reference architecture, combining Foxconn's capabilities in advanced computing platforms, server rack integration, and global manufacturing with Schneider Electric's expertise in power systems, cooling technology, and energy management. The collaboration aims to help customers build and operate large-scale computing infrastructure faster, more efficiently, and with greater predictability. Production for the partnership is expected to begin later in 2026.

Lockheed Martin and Divergent unveil 3D-printed Replicator drone to speed digital manufacturing

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:41:59 GMT

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works and Divergent Technologies introduced the Replicator, a 3D-printed unmanned aircraft prototype with a roughly 2.7 meter wingspan, after moving the concept to first flight-ready hardware in under 12 months. The effort showcased a digital manufacturing workflow designed to accelerate design-to-production timelines and explore multi-mission applications for next-generation defense systems.

SK Hynix reportedly readies HBM4E samples for Nvidia as Samsung pulls ahead

DIGITIMES — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:54:54 GMT

SK Hynix moved closer to shipping seventh-generation high-bandwidth memory, HBM4E, to key customers as timing emerged as a critical competitive factor in the global memory market. According to Newsis, industry sources reported that SK Hynix had recently made positive progress in HBM4E development and was preparing to send samples soon, with shipments possibly beginning in June 2026 and no later than July 2026.

China's Starlink rival warns SpaceX is taking prime orbital slots

Sherri Wang — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:54:40 GMT

SpaceX's reported valuation crossing US$1 trillion has renewed global attention on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and the broader space economy. As Starlink continues to expand its lead, the head of China's Qianfan satellite system has publicly warned that China faces a narrowing window to secure orbital and frequency resources.

Taiwan marks 500th offshore wind turbine milestone, total capacity hits 4.8GW

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:54:26 GMT

Taiwan has reached another milestone in its offshore wind power development, with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announcing that the country's offshore wind farms have recently completed installation of the 500th wind turbine, bringing total installed capacity to 4.8GW.

Yaskawa eyes physical AI boom with JPY25 billion capex

Lily Hess — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:54:13 GMT

Yaskawa Electric is betting heavily on physical AI, the field that enables robots to operate autonomously, as it positions itself for a boom in AI robots. Since starting work with Nvidia in 2023, the company has completed proof-of-concept tests with more than 100 companies and is now seeking an effective commercial model.

Apple leans on Google Cloud and Nvidia GPUs in a pragmatic AI reset

Lily Hess — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:54:03 GMT

After Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote, online rumors claimed that only premium devices with 12GB of memory could run on-device AI, but DIGITIMES analyst Luke Lin said on a podcast that that was just Apple's messaging. Most on-device AI features only need 8GB of memory; only the Apple-defined advanced on-device AI requires the higher 12GB spec.

Rapidus signs UK chip pact in push for 2nm customers

DIGITIMES — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:53:51 GMT

Japan's Rapidus has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK Semiconductor Centre, a government-backed body established in 2025 to support Britain's semiconductor ecosystem, marking a step toward cooperation on future semiconductor manufacturing and potential customer development in the UK, according to Rapidus and reports from Nikkei, Bloomberg, and Reuters.

Interview: From language to motion— Japanese startup APTO builds the data backbone for physical AI

DIGITIMES — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:53:36 GMT

Physical AI is emerging as a new frontier of model development. Any model, however, is only as good as the data used to train it. Because of this, Japanese startup APTO is launching a physical AI infrastructure lab to help plug the data gap needed to create vision-language-action (VLA) models, with a focus on imitation learning.

SAP says human-in-the-loop review is key to moving enterprise AI agents from POC to production

DIGITIMES — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:19:56 GMT

SAP reported that enterprise AI agents are shifting from proof of concept to real-world deployment as companies aim to embed generative AI into operational workflows such as finance and supply chain management rather than limiting it to chat and summarization tools. The firm said many AI applications reached about 80% accuracy during the proof of concept stage, but that core workflows require substantially higher reliability and human oversight to ensure safety and compliance.

Samsung foundry chief sees 2028 profit path as bonus costs mount

DIGITIMES — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:08:29 GMT

Samsung Electronics' foundry division chief told employees on June 12 that a return to profitability in the contract chipmaking business looks difficult next year, with 2028 emerging as a more likely timeline, Yonhap, ZDNet Korea, and Chosun reported.

Micron CEO turns visa rejection into US$1 trillion milestone

Charlene Chen — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:22:05 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's recent trip to South Korea put the spotlight on the rivalry between Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, while memory giant Micron crossed the US$1 trillion market-cap mark for the first time. That shift has also drawn global attention to Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, whose rise began with a string of dramatic visa rejections 50 years ago.

NPAQ pivots to AI infrastructure and satellite NTN amid memory market slump

DIGITIMES — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:13:33 GMT

INPAQ Technology, a unit of PSA Walsin Technology, reported that revenue and profit in the first quarter of 2026 fell year on year, citing a supply-demand imbalance in the memory market and sharp raw material price increases. The company said it expected a gradual recovery in the second half of 2026 as industry inventories normalized and new products and customers began contributing. INPAQ also outlined a strategic shift to deepen its antenna businesses and expand passive components for AI servers and high-performance computing.

CoPoS and FOPLP accelerate as Manz delivers its first 310mm electrochemical deposition equipment

Charlene Chen — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:10:33 GMT

Equipment maker Manz recently announced the successful delivery of the world's first 310mm x 310mm panel-level packaging (PLP) electrochemical deposition (ECD) mass-production tool, further expanding its footprint in advanced packaging process equipment and demonstrating integrated capabilities spanning in-house R&D, process and system integration, and mass-production deployment.

Walsin sees passive component crunch stretching into 2028 as memory shortages weigh

Sherri Wang — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:09:15 GMT

Walsin Technology expects the tight supply of passive components could last into 2028, as demand from AI infrastructure, automotive electronics, and future device upgrades lifts orders while memory shortages weigh on shipments across the broader electronics supply chain.

BESS boom supply chain reshuffle: Automakers pivot to stationary battery systems

DIGITIMES — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:01:05 GMT

US automakers are shifting major battery investment away from electric vehicle traction packs and into stationary battery energy storage systems as policy changes and grid needs have altered market incentives, executives said. The move has accelerated in recent months as the expanding US BESS market and federal and local "Made in the US" subsidies have made large-scale stationary storage a more immediate commercial opportunity than some EV segments.

Taiwan urges tech gains for traditional industries

Charlene Chen — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:00:40 GMT

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) convened its industrial advisory committee on June 12, 2026, with Minister Ming-Hsin Kung saying participants focused on how to help traditional industries upgrade and transform through semiconductor supply chain spillover, practical AI adoption, and industry alliances.

SpaceX's US$2T debut forces Wall Street to tear up mega-cap map

Charlene Chen — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:55:55 GMT

SpaceX has broken through the US$2 trillion market-cap mark after completing the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history, surpassing Elon Musk's other companies Tesla and Meta, and prompting Wall Street to reconsider the long-used "Magnificent Seven" framework.