DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Taiwan's Top lead frame players ride price hikes waves to record orders

Charlene Chen — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Geopolitical risks and rising industrial demand have driven volatile metal prices for gold, silver, and copper, triggering a wave of quarterly price increases in the lead frame industry starting from the fourth quarter of 2025. Supply chain sources indicate that these price adjustments are already taking effect and are beginning to reflect in revenue performance for the first quarter of 2026.

Gangwon's expanding semiconductor cluster comes with global implications

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:45:00 GMT

South Korea's Gangwon Province is accelerating the development of a semiconductor cluster centered on Wonju, Chuncheon, and Gangneung, aiming to build a full ecosystem. Global supply chains could gain a new hub built on strengths in smart medical semiconductors, geographic proximity to major fabs, and growing Taiwan partnerships that may diversify sourcing and innovation.

Naver, TCS partner on AI and cloud in India during Korea-India summit

DIGITIMES — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:30:15 GMT

Naver has signed a strategic partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to jointly develop artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services in India, marking one of the cooperation deals concluded during a Korea-India summit visit.

MiTAC expands production across US, Vietnam and Taiwan as units gear up for growth

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:30:00 GMT

MiTAC Holdings' simultaneous expansion of production across the US, Vietnam, and Taiwan is designed to reassure global customers amid mounting geopolitical and supply uncertainties in 2026, while its two main units — Mitac Digital Technology and Mitac Computing Technology — prepare for growth. The strategy has broad implications for global supply chains, competitiveness, and investment dynamics.

Taiwan suppliers expect renewed focus on innovation under John Ternus

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:16:56 GMT

Apple's appointment of hardware engineering senior vice president John Ternus to succeed Tim Cook as CEO in September 2026 signals shifts in product strategy and supplier relations worldwide, as industry observers expect renewed focus on hardware-led innovation and edge AI, which could reshape opportunities for Taiwanese suppliers and global component makers.

Powerchip returns to profitability in 1Q26 following fab sale to Micron

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:34:42 GMT

Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing (PSMC) reported revenue of NT$13.57 billion (approx. US$432 million) in the first quarter of 2026, up 6% from the previous quarter and 22% year over year, benefiting from the disposal gains related to the sale of its Tongluo fab in Taiwan to Micron Technology. Net profit after tax reached NT$14.23 billion, with earnings per share (EPS) of NT$3.36, ending 10 consecutive quarters of losses.

US FCC router rules rattle industry, but Taiwan vendors see silver lining

Willis Ke — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:33:33 GMT

A new US regulatory push to scrutinize foreign-made consumer routers on national security grounds is raising questions across the global networking industry. Yet for Taiwan's key equipment vendors, the immediate outlook for 2026 appears largely stable, with some even anticipating short-term margin benefits.

CXMT fills LPDDR4X gap as non-China CSPs seek capacity

Charlene Chen — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:33:21 GMT

Memory giant ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is stepping in to fill the consumer market shortfall left by Samsung Electronics' planned phase-out of LPDDR4X production. With memory costs soaring and supply tightening, roughly 40% of CXMT's capacity will reportedly be reserved for LPDDR4X, while the remaining 60% is dedicated to advanced DDR5 and LPDDR5 products.

Taiwan's floating offshore wind grows, fixed-bottom sites reach saturation

Emily Kuo — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:33:13 GMT

Driven by rapid growth in the AI and semiconductor industries, green electricity demand is expected to reach 40 billion kWh by 2030. As fixed-bottom wind turbine installations gradually approach saturation, future development is expected to shift toward floating wind turbines in deep-water areas. Renewable energy has become a key factor supporting major corporate investments, while also enhancing Taiwan's energy independence and national security.

AI is turning cars into mobile living spaces, Taiwan's ARTC Chief says

Elaine Chen — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:30:20 GMT

As advances in artificial intelligence (AI) accelerate, the global auto industry is transforming any in its history. Jheng-Jian Wang, chairman of Taiwan's Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC), said the car of the future will no longer be merely a means of transportation, but a "mobile living space" capable of reasoning and decision-making. At the center of this shift, he said, are two technologies: the smart cockpit and end-to-end AI driving systems.

CXMT HBM3 timeline slips, mass production unlikely in 2026

Levi Li — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:30:03 GMT

China's leading memory chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) is facing fresh uncertainty over the commercialization timeline of its fourth-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM3), according to Korean media reports.

China's humanoid robot makers eye RISC-V over Nvidia Jetson

Levi Li — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:29:37 GMT

At the second humanoid robot half-marathon held in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town), several "Linglong 2.0" humanoid robots powered by a RISC-V AI CPU — the K3 chip — completed the race, standing out as one of the event's key technical highlights.

SJSemi's blockbuster IPO reorders China's chip packaging landscape

Elaine Chen — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:29:07 GMT

Shares of SJSemi surged on their trading debut on Shanghai's SSE STAR Market on Monday, underscoring investor enthusiasm for advanced chip packaging technologies as demand for artificial intelligence continues to accelerate.

The survivor's listing: How XDXCT escaped insolvency to target China's STAR market

DIGITIMES — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:23:59 GMT

China's domestic GPU push has gained a new contender in the capital markets race. Xiangdi Xian Computing Technology (Chongqing) Co., also known as XDXCT, has formally launched pre-IPO preparations after signing a financial advisory agreement with CSC Financial Co., marking a strategic shift from survival mode to expansion.

Micron's Sanand ramp shifts India chip debate from milestone to manufacturing system

DIGITIMES — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:23:25 GMT

Micron Technology's Sanand assembly, test, marking, and packaging plant has given India something it lacked until recently: a live semiconductor manufacturing operation with global supply-chain relevance.

Amazon expands alliance with Anthropic as AI race shifts to computing power

DIGITIMES — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:21:09 GMT

While much of the public conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) has centered on chatbots and consumer-facing tools, a quieter — and far more capital-intensive — race is unfolding behind the scenes: the battle to build the infrastructure that powers them.

BYD seeks role in Europe's auto lobby as Chinese carmakers gain ground

DIGITIMES — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:20:58 GMT

On April 20, BYD formally applied to join the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) and has begun discussions with the group, according to foreign media reports. If approved, it would become the first Chinese automaker admitted to the association — a milestone that could amplify its voice in Europe's policy and regulatory debates.

Interview: How a Taiwanese startup convinced Tesla to open up its energy storage system

DIGITIMES — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:13:05 GMT

A green energy startup from Taiwan is heading to Silicon Valley with an unconventional argument: the most valuable layer in the energy transition may not be more solar panels, but the AI dispatch layer that sits between generation and consumption.

Apple's incoming CEO faces mounting pressure to close AI gap

DIGITIMES — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:12:48 GMT

Apple's planned leadership transition is placing artificial intelligence capability gaps at the center of the agenda for incoming chief executive John Ternus. The company has confirmed that Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take over as CEO on September 1, while Tim Cook will move into the role of executive chairman.

Analysis: Tesla's chip ambitions drive a wedge between Samsung and Intel

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:39 GMT

Tesla's Terafab project is accelerating, with the company targeting substantial in-house chip production to support autonomous driving, robotaxis, humanoid robots, and AI infrastructure. The push is already forcing a split among its potential foundry partners, with divergent responses that could reshape supplier relationships and competitive dynamics across the semiconductor industry.

Enflame tests IPO path with fast growth, Tencent reliance, and rising losses

DIGITIMES — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:29:14 GMT

Enflame is moving closer to a STAR Market listing, highlighting a central tension in China's AI chip sector: strong demand and rapid revenue growth have yet to translate into a sustainable business model.

AP Memory posts 112% profit surge in March, expects stronger growth momentum in 2026

Charlene Chen — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:56:00 GMT

Niche memory design firm AP Memory announced a 112% year-over-year increase in its self-reported March 2026 revenue to NT$814 million (approx. US$25.9 million). Pre-tax net income rose 53% to NT$457 million, while net profit attributable to the parent company grew 62% to NT$372 million. Earnings per share (EPS) reached NT$2.29. The company is optimistic about sustained growth momentum throughout 2026, with overall operational visibility better than in previous years.

BYD reassesses Malaysia factory project as talks stall with the government

Elaine Chen — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:36:57 GMT

In August 2025, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD announced plans to build a completely knocked-down (CKD) assembly plant at the KLK Technology Park in Tanjung Malim, Malaysia's Perak state, with operations expected to begin in 2026.

Samsung plans NAND expansion at P5 on AI-driven price gains

Levi Li — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Surging demand for NAND flash, fuelled by artificial intelligence workloads and data centre expansion, is pushing memory makers into a new investment cycle, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix accelerating capacity plans after years of restraint.

MacBook Neo demand surge highlights chip shortage pressure

DIGITIMES — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:59:38 GMT

Apple's MacBook Neo has recorded stronger-than-expected sales since its global launch in March 2026, quickly emerging as one of the company's most popular entry-level products.

Commentary: Honor's smartphone engineering enters robotics, testing Unitree's lead

Levi Li — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:57:16 GMT

At a humanoid robot half-marathon in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA or E-Town), Honor swept the top three positions with its in-house robot "Lightning," placing six units in the top ranks.

IX Renewables urges Taiwan collaboration to advance floating wind power

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:51:53 GMT

Taiwan plans to launch a floating wind turbine demonstration project in 2026, a move with implications for global energy markets as soaring oil prices and geopolitical risk increase demand for green power. Industry leaders say government cooperation, policy, and international supply chain collaboration are needed to lower costs and attract investment.

Taiwan's Turing Drive targets industrial markets as Robotaxi hype slows

Elaine Chen — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:43:49 GMT

While much of the world's attention remains fixed on robotaxis navigating open roads, David Shen, chief executive of Turing Drive, argues that the true commercial breakthrough for autonomous driving may lie elsewhere, in what he calls "specialized environments," such as factories, ports, and rural regions.

ASML's memory revenue tops logic in 1Q26, AI-fueled HBM demand surges

Charlene Chen — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:29:23 GMT

ASML revealed during its first quarter 2026 earnings call that revenue from memory systems has, for the first time, exceeded that of logic chips. Against a backdrop of sustained AI infrastructure investment, DRAM manufacturers are aggressively competing for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) equipment capacity, signaling a shift in global semiconductor demand patterns.

China unveils 10 measures for Taiwan; Taiwan's MOEA affirms independent economic goals

Eifeh Strom — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:26:18 GMT

Chinese authorities announced 10 new policies related to Taiwan following the meeting between China's president Xi Jinping and the chairperson of the Kuomintang political party in Taiwan, Cheng Li-Wun.

BOE loses momentum as Samsung Display supplies nearly 60% of iPhone panels

Emily Kuo — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:16:31 GMT

According to The Korea Economic Daily, market research firm Omdia statistics show that in the 2025 iPhone display market, Samsung Display (SDC) ranked first with a 56.8% supply share, up about 8pp year-over-year. In terms of shipments, SDC's supply volume increased to around 142 million units in 2025, a year-over-year growth of about 15%.

Beijing acts on memory price surge, AI demand reshapes device costs

Levi Li — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:57:15 GMT

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is stepping in to steady the memory supply chain after a sharp rise in DRAM and mobile memory prices began feeding into smartphones and other consumer electronics.

Electronic system design industry sustains double-digit growth in 4Q25, driven by strong SIP and services demand

DIGITIMES — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:42:43 GMT

The global electronic system design industry closed 2025 on a strong footing, with revenue reaching US$5.47 billion in the fourth quarter—up 10.3% year-over-year—according to the latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report from SEMI's Electronic System Design Alliance. The report also showed a 10.1% rise in the four-quarter moving average, underscoring sustained momentum across the sector.

Global OLED shipments to hold steady in 2026 as memory cost inflation reshapes smartphone demand

DIGITIMES — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:34:52 GMT

Counterpoint Research expects overall OLED panel shipments to be flat year-over-year in 2026, a shift that tightens smartphone supply, boosts demand for premium and IT applications, and signals cost-driven portfolio changes for manufacturers worldwide.

Huawei flags smartphone price pressure, broadens AI device portfolio

DIGITIMES — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:34:24 GMT

Huawei used its latest product launch to deliver a dual message: rising component costs are tightening smartphone pricing margins, even as the company accelerates its push across AI-driven devices — from flagship phones to PCs and wearables — built around its in-house chips and HarmonyOS ecosystem.