DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Taiwan space body makes global push with EU and US expo debut

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:30:34 GMT

Taiwan has spent the past decade quietly assembling one of Asia's most capable space industries, with more than 250 companies now active across satellites, rockets, and related systems. The sector's leading trade body is now ready to take that story to the world. The Taiwan Space Industry Development Association (TSIDA) announced it will send a delegation abroad for the first time in 2026, targeting two of the industry's most prominent international gatherings — the US Small Satellite Conference and Europe's Space Tech Expo.

Semco raises ABF substrate prices as AI server demand surges

Charlene Chen — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:30:05 GMT

The explosive growth in artificial intelligence (AI) servers and high-performance computing (HPC) is driving up the value of key components like ABF substrates. With ongoing bottlenecks in the global supply chain for advanced packaging substrates, South Korea's Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) has proactively restructured its product lineup and increased prices. This move reflects not only rising raw material costs but also a structural shift where demand far exceeds supply.

Taiwan-Silicon Valley start-up Anvil Robotics aims to scale intelligent machines

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:29:53 GMT

Operating across Taiwan and Silicon Valley, the artificial intelligence start-up Anvil Robotics said on April 2 that it had raised US$6.5 million in seed funding, led by Matter Venture Partners, a Silicon Valley investor focused on semiconductors, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. The company said the funds would be used to accelerate development of its "physical AI" infrastructure platform and expand into global markets.

Exclusive: Nanya Tech revenue hits record on DRAM price surge; Kioxia clarifies investment intent

Levi Li — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:29:37 GMT

Nanya Technology Corporation (NTC) reported March 2026 revenue of NT$18.17 billion (approx. US$568.15 million), up 16.42% month-over-month and 560.04% year-over-year. First-quarter revenue climbed to NT$49.09 billion, surging 582.91% to a record high, underscoring a sharp rebound in the DRAM cycle.

How second-tier powers are bypassing big tech via Taiwan

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:29:22 GMT

The global AI narrative is often reduced to a struggle between US- and China-based tech giants. However, a quieter yet more significant movement is emerging among second-tier industrial powers. During a recent lecture, DIGITIMES chairman Colley Hwang spoke about how nations such as Germany, Japan, France, and Canada are increasingly focused on building sovereign AI.

Memory interface chip maker Montage sees DDR5 surge drive 2025 growth

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:27:11 GMT

Montage Technology reported full-year 2025 revenue of CNY5.46 billion (US$750 million), up 49.9% year on year, while net profit rose 58.4% to CNY2.24 billion, broadly in line with expectations. Adjusted net profit reached CNY2.02 billion, up 62.0%, reflecting solid underlying demand.

New contender to Starlink: Amazon in talks to acquire Globalstar

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:26:53 GMT

Amazon is in advanced discussions to acquire the satellite communications provider Globalstar, a move that could significantly strengthen its ambitions in low-Earth orbit broadband and sharpen its challenge to SpaceX and its dominant Starlink network, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

Samsung strike threat clouds PMIC, mature-node outlook

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 23:26:33 GMT

Samsung Electronics reportedly faces renewed strike risk after union talks stalled, threatening already tight mature-node semiconductor supply chains. Power management ICs (PMICs) and display driver ICs (DDICs) are seen as the most exposed segments, given constrained capacity and firm demand.

PSMC emerges as key link in Europe's push to bring AI chip research to market

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 08:04:31 GMT

Europe is stepping up semiconductor ties with Taiwan as it seeks to turn research strength into commercial production, with foundries such as Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (PSMC) playing a growing role in bridging that gap as the artificial intelligence race intensifies.

PSMC, CEA-Leti strike multi-year deal to ease AI data, power bottlenecks

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 08:03:29 GMT

Taiwanese foundry Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. (PSMC) and France's CEA-Leti have signed a multi-year agreement on April 3 aimed at easing one of artificial intelligence's most pressing constraints: rising power consumption and data-transfer bottlenecks inside data centers, executives said in an interview with DIGITIMES Asia.

2026 USTR Report: landmark 'ART' pact reshapes US-Taiwan trade landscape

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:44:43 GMT

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has designated Taiwan as a highly cooperative and pivotal trading partner in its 2026 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics lifts FC-BGA prices on AI-driven shortage

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:44:34 GMT

Samsung Electro-Mechanics has raised prices for its high-end flip-chip ball grid array (FC-BGA) substrates as demand from artificial intelligence (AI) servers and high-performance computing (HPC) applications continues to outpace supply, according to South Korean media reports and industry sources.

US faces split Asia: allies build 'sovereignty walls' as digital tensions rise

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:44:24 GMT

The 2026 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report signals a new era of digital friction between the US and its closest Asian allies.

US-China trade tensions deepen as supply chains fracture despite tariff truce

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:44:10 GMT

The trade environment for US businesses operating in or trading with China deteriorated sharply between 2025 and 2026, according to a comparative analysis of the latest National Trade Estimate (NTE) Reports, underscoring a widening gap between high-level diplomacy and on-the-ground economic realities.

J-mex accelerates IMU motion capture tech to lower robot training costs

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:43:38 GMT

The current lack of real-world physical data for humanoid robots means they still require substantial training costs. Recognizing this business opportunity, J-Mex, which specializes in motion capture technology, has in recent years been actively entering the humanoid robot supply chain. It is now a partner in Nvidia's ecosystem and has recently announced a collaboration with Techman Robot to accelerate the deployment of physical AI.

Taiwan pushes ahead with AI and tech agenda even as budget deadlock threatens fiscal paralysis

Willis Ke — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:43:18 GMT

Taiwan sits at a rare intersection of economic momentum and political gridlock. The island's economy expanded 8.68% in 2025, exports hit a record US$640.75 billion, and per capita GDP is closing in on the US$40,000 threshold — largely on the back of booming global demand for AI chips and semiconductor capacity. Yet while Taiwan's technology industry is firing on all cylinders, its legislature remains deadlocked over the government's spending plan.

Software-defined vehicles: Longevity vs. rapid tech change

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:38:18 GMT

In the era of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the automotive industry faces a fundamental tension: while a car's mechanical structure can last 15 years or more, its digital computing and communication technologies evolve on a 3-to-5-year cycle.

Taiwan tackles CPO testing bottlenecks to scale SiPh for AI data centers

Charlene Chen — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:37:55 GMT

The surge in AI computing power is driving explosive demand for high-speed optical interconnects in data centers. Forecasts show that by 2026, over 50% of data center transceiver sales will come from silicon photonics (SiPh) modules, a sharp rise from 33% in 2024.

Memory stocks rattled by TurboQuant, but demand outlook holds

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:37:36 GMT

Google Research's TurboQuant memory-compression algorithm has raised concerns that demand for AI-related memory could weaken, but South Korean experts and analysts say the market reaction may be overblown.

LG Energy Solution reportedly adopts new battery method for Tesla

DIGITIMES — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:37:19 GMT

LG Energy Solution has introduced a new "double stack" manufacturing process for prismatic batteries to be supplied to Tesla, according to South Korea's The Elec, as the battery maker expands US production for grid-scale energy storage.

Benefits of CXL in server memory configuration

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 09:50:14 GMT

General-purpose server demand on the rise in 2026; continuous memory cost increases expected to drive CXL demand.

Wiwynn taps optics chief to deepen CPO push for AI servers

Levi Li — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 08:16:45 GMT

Wiwynn has nominated LandMark Optoelectronics chairman and CEO Steven Chang to its 2026 board, reinforcing its push into co-packaged optics (CPO) and signaling deeper alignment with optical interconnect technologies for AI infrastructure.

SpaceX files for IPO, setting stage for potential US$1.75 trillion valuation

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 07:45:49 GMT

Elon Musk's private rocket company SpaceX, which has fundamentally reshaped modern spaceflight, has confidentially filed for an initial public offering in the US, according to people familiar with the matter. The move could result in the largest stock market listing in history, with a potential valuation exceeding US$1.75 trillion.

IBM and Arm collaborate on dual‑architecture hardware to broaden enterprise AI deployment

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 07:22:43 GMT

IBM and Arm announced a collaboration to build dual‑architecture hardware aimed at running AI and data‑intensive workloads with more flexibility, reliability, and security, potentially affecting enterprise infrastructure worldwide by expanding software choice, easing workload portability, and influencing how organizations deploy mission‑critical applications across cloud and on‑premises environments in the near term.

Copper price surge drives quarterly lead frame price hikes

Lily Hess — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 07:20:20 GMT

Lead frame packaging suppliers are hiking prices to pass along rising costs sweeping through the semiconductor supply chain. Gold, silver, and copper prices continue to climb sharply, significantly raising raw material costs. At the same time, the inventory reduction cycle within the mature process semiconductor market is nearing completion, prompting customers to ramp up orders.

South Korea reportedly advances GaAs localization with 95% yield on 4-inch process

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 07:18:02 GMT

South Korea is moving closer to localizing high-performance compound semiconductor components long reliant on imports after achieving a key manufacturing milestone, according to ET News.

Precious metal surge drives price hikes for frequency components at TXC and Tai-Saw

Lily Hess — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 07:13:37 GMT

Rising global economic uncertainty has fueled safe-haven demand alongside strong industrial consumption, pushing precious metal prices higher. In response, Taiwan's leading quartz component maker TXC announced a 5–10% price increase effective April 1, 2026. Tai-Saw Technology followed suit by raising prices on filters and other frequency parts, while other Taiwanese suppliers have begun negotiating with customers to reflect rising raw material costs, such as gold.

Samsung reportedly supplies Exynos modem chips to Fibocom for 5G module mass production

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 07:11:55 GMT

Samsung Electronics has supplied its Exynos modem chipset to Chinese wireless module maker Fibocom, marking a notable expansion of its system semiconductor business into external clients, according to inews24 and Greened.

Taiwan car market shows structural shifts, with Tesla deliveries surging

Rodney Chan — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 07:11:49 GMT

Taiwan's auto market showed strong momentum in March 2026, with total vehicle registrations reaching 39,318 units — a sharp 78.4% jump from February — signaling a broad post-Lunar New Year rebound in consumer demand. That explosive monthly growth, alongside first-quarter 2026 totals, highlights significant structural shifts underway.

South Korea exports hit record US$86bn, chip demand drives breakout above US$80bn

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 07:02:19 GMT

South Korea's exports climbed to a record US$86.1 billion in March 2026, marking the first time monthly shipments have exceeded the US$80 billion threshold, even as the Middle East conflict disrupted logistics and energy flows. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the figure was up 48.3% year on year, extending a 10-month run of record monthly exports and lifting the country's trade surplus to US$25.7 billion — its 14th straight month in the black.

Intel expands SambaNova stake, governance questions surface

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 06:59:06 GMT

Intel plans to invest a further US$15 million in AI chip startup SambaNova Systems, lifting its stake to about 9% pending regulatory approval, according to Reuters. The move follows a US$35 million investment in February that raised Intel's ownership to 8.2% from 6.8% a year earlier and formalised a strategic collaboration between the two.

Asahi Kasei enters AI chip fiberglass market to challenge Nittobo's dominance

Charlene Chen — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 06:00:49 GMT

Japan's Asahi Kasei has announced its official entry into the AI chip supply chain with fiberglass cloth as an insulating substrate material, targeting the current global leader Nittobo, which holds a 90% market share. Meanwhile, Nippon Electric Glass (NEG) also plans to invest in AI-specific fiberglass cloth, signaling accelerated competition among Japanese materials makers for semiconductor opportunities.

Samsung ramps Texas fab as engineers gather for 2nm push

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 05:52:26 GMT

Samsung Electronics has reportedly moved into the equipment installation and testing phase at its foundry in Taylor, Texas, transitioning from construction to operational setup for 2nm production. More than 3,000 engineers from Samsung and global equipment suppliers have begun gathering at the site, according to ET News, signaling the start of large-scale ramp-up activities.

France backs Taiwan's ProLogium with EUR1.5B subsidy to build solid-state battery factory

Charlene Chen — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 04:39:00 GMT

The French government will provide about EUR1.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) in subsidies to support Taiwanese startup ProLogium Technology's new factory construction in France. According to Nikkei, this move signals France's accelerated efforts to attract electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturers and marks a shift from its previous "self-reliance" industrial policy focused on EU-based companies.

Topco maintains stable shipments despite Middle East conflict, builds safety stock as AI demand accelerates

Willis Ke — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 04:34:16 GMT

As the US-Iran conflict enters its second month, concerns are mounting over potential disruptions to global energy supplies and petrochemical feedstocks. Against this backdrop, Jeffery C.L. Pan, chairman of Taiwan's Topco Scientific, stated that the company's operations remain stable, with shipments unaffected to date and upstream cost pressures largely contained.