DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Quartz component makers raise prices as material costs bite

Lily Hess — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:09:44 GMT

Quartz component suppliers are raising prices as higher raw material costs from gold wire and ceramic bases squeeze margins. Industry sources said ceramic base prices could climb by double-digit percentages, in some cases even doubling, pushing makers to pass on some of the increases.

Tripod posts record second-quarter revenue as 2026 capex plan tops NT$10 billion

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:09:33 GMT

Tripod Technology said its business stayed strong in the first half of 2026, helping second-quarter revenue hit a new quarterly high. June sales still topped NT$8 billion (approx. US$250 million), even though they fell from May, as inventory checks, component shortages, and customer supply gaps delayed shipments.

TASC reshuffles management as PASC targets 2027 Taiwan Innovation Board listing

Lily Hess — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:09:18 GMT

Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor (TASC) has announced senior management changes at its group companies as ProAsia Semiconductor (PASC) prepares for a Taiwan Innovation Board listing, now expected in the first or second quarter of 2027. The overhaul is aimed at meeting listing requirements on corporate governance, independence, and the rule that senior executives cannot hold concurrent cross-company roles.

China quantum research wins UNESCO, IEEE honors

Lily Hess — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:09:03 GMT

China's quantum technology research has drawn renewed international academic recognition. The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) said Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Jianwei Pan has received the third UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize and later shared the 2026 IEEE Photonics Society Quantum Electronics Award with USTC professor Chaoyang Lu.

Analysis: Why Meta's AI strategy sparked a market misread

Scarlett Yu — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:04:04 GMT

Reports that Meta is considering leasing out idle AI computing capacity have rattled investors. But treating Meta's predicament as a warning sign for the entire AI industry is a classic case of overgeneralization.

US chases AI talent abroad as China strengthens its homegrown pipeline

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:03:52 GMT

The US can no longer close its artificial-intelligence talent gap with China through visa curbs or export controls alone, a new Hoover Institution and Stanford study argues, because China is now producing frontier-model researchers who never trained, worked, or published abroad, even as it also reclaims talent that spent years in American institutions.

US-funded researchers barred from working with blacklisted Chinese entities from 2027

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:03:39 GMT

The US National Science Foundation will prohibit the researchers it funds from collaborating with organizations on Washington's restricted-party lists, a roster heavily populated by Chinese firms and institutions, under a Dear Colleague Letter dated July 8, 2026. The agency said it intends to implement the prohibition in fiscal 2027.

China launches first 8-inch 2D chip line to bypass EUV limits

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:03:26 GMT

Shanghai AtomIC Technology has launched what it describes as the world's first 8-inch pilot line for two-dimensional semiconductors, marking a shift from laboratory research to engineering validation, small-batch tape-outs and early industrialisation.

Samsung brings HBM, logic, and optics together in packaging push

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:02:43 GMT

Samsung Electronics is developing advanced packaging technology that combines high-bandwidth memory (HBM), logic chips and silicon photonics (SiPh) as it seeks to address the rising power consumption and data-transfer bottlenecks facing AI data centers.

Column: Physical AI's rivalry shifts from companies to states

Jingyue Hsiao — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:02:31 GMT

At the Humanoids Summit in Tokyo at the end of May 2026, a conference that had originally focused on technology and commercialization also set aside a stage for government delegates and policy watchers. An executive at a major US robotics company said bluntly at the event: "Government intervention is no longer optional."

WeLeader Biomedical posts record 1H26 revenue on stronger health screening demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:01:42 GMT

WeLeader Biomedical reported that June 2026 consolidated revenue reached NT$113 million (US$3.52 million), its second-highest monthly level on record, as Taiwan's health screening demand and diagnostics shipments continued to rise. The company said the result marked the fourth consecutive month above NT$100 million and extended its year-on-year revenue growth streak to 17 months.

Commentary: Forget AI chips — China's top science awards reveal what Beijing is actually building

Levi Li — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:01:27 GMT

China has nine years left to meet its goal of becoming a global science and technology powerhouse by 2035.

Fiber filter maker sees June and first-half revenue rise on tech demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:01:10 GMT

Taiwan-based filter maker Fusheng International said on July 10 that stronger investment by high-tech customers lifted its June and first-half revenue to their second-highest levels for the same periods. Demand tied to semiconductor, memory and AI substrate projects, along with shipments of industrial liquid filtration equipment, supported the gain.

Interview: UK's AI sovereignty pitch — research at home, scale with Taiwan

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 23:00:54 GMT

As the world enters an AI-centric era, the global race for technological leadership is no longer defined only by who can build the most advanced models. It is increasingly shaped by who can secure compute, deploy infrastructure at scale, reduce energy constraints, and turn research into commercial capability.

SK Hynix shares plunge after blockbuster Nasdaq ADR debut

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:05:05 GMT

SK hynix shares suffered their steepest-ever decline on Monday, just one trading day after the memory chipmaker made a strong debut on Nasdaq through its newly listed American depositary receipts (ADRs), as profit-taking, earnings concerns, and a possible shift by investors into the US-listed securities weighed on its Korean shares.

Samsung develops glass interposer as TSMC expands packaging capacity

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:22:33 GMT

Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display are jointly developing a next-generation glass interposer that could lower the cost of packaging high-performance chips, with prototypes potentially ready by the end of this year, The Elec reported, citing semiconductor industry sources.

Huakun deepens server cooperation with Huawei, targets overseas growth through on-premise AI applications

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:06:45 GMT

Huakun deepens server cooperation with Huawei, with clients already in ASEAN, Central Asia, and South Asia. The company targets overseas growth through on-premise AI applications.

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.

SK Group chair: US investment plan will far exceed US$35B

DIGITIMES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:40:04 GMT

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won said the South Korean conglomerate is preparing a US investment plan that would far exceed US$35 billion—the amount he said the group is already putting into the country—though he did not disclose the plan's size, timing or components.

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.