DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Nvidia sells US$25 billion in bonds as investors seek foothold in AI boom

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:07:00 GMT

Nvidia launched a sale of US$25 billion worth of high-grade bonds on June 15, ultimately garnering up to US$85 billion in orders, or more than triple the bond's original size. This is one of several debt offerings this year from tech giants, which are responding to investor excitement and a need for cash to capitalize on the AI boom.

ASML, TSMC, and imec move 2D transistors closer to manufacturing reality

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:00:10 GMT

ASML, TSMC, and imec have demonstrated a major advance in the effort to bring two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials from research laboratories into high-volume semiconductor manufacturing. At the 2026 IEEE/JSAP Symposium on VLSI Technology and Circuits, the partners unveiled a 300mm wafer integration flow that produced both n-type and p-type 2D-material transistors at a 50nm contacted poly pitch (CPP), marking the first time such scaled devices have been demonstrated using an industry-compatible process.

AI chip race sends semiconductor equipment sales to record US$36.55 billion

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 08:45:26 GMT

Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales reached a record US$36.55 billion in the first quarter of 2026, driven by AI-related investment in advanced logic, DRAM, and advanced packaging capacity, according to the latest Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics report from SEMI.

Samsung reportedly moves closer to 5nm-class MRAM as TSMC advances its roadmap

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:00:55 GMT

Samsung Electronics has secured key technology for a 5nm-class magnetoresistive random-access memory cell, according to Korean financial daily Sedaily, moving ahead just four months after presenting what it described as the world's first 8nm-class MRAM at an international conference.

Exclusive: Synopsys CEO eyes subscription-plus-token model in AI Agentic era

Scarlett Yu — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:59:59 GMT

Synopsys celebrated the 35th anniversary of its Taiwan operations and the opening of its new Hsinchu office on June 15. During the event, Synopsys CEO Sassine Ghazi sat down with DIGITIMES to discuss how agentic AI is transforming electronic design automation (EDA), semiconductor development, and the future of engineering work.

Synopsys celebrates 35 years in Taiwan, pledges continued investment

Scarlett Yu — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:58:41 GMT

On June 15, Synopsys celebrated the 35th anniversary of its Taiwan operations and officially opened its new office at Hsinchu Science Park X Software Park.

China mass produces silicon-28 amid quantum computing race with US

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:52:38 GMT

China has achieved mass production of ultra-pure silicon, according to the state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) — an essential material for building silicon-based quantum computers. The breakthrough builds on a government push to sharpen its quantum research edge and reduce its reliance on foreign technology supply chains more broadly.

Murata and Synopsys deepen simulation integration as electronics design complexity grows

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:52:36 GMT

Murata Manufacturing has partnered with Synopsys to make its latest electromagnetic and thermal simulation models directly accessible through Synopsys' Ansys HFSS and Ansys Icepak environments, simplifying engineers' workflows as they develop increasingly complex electronic systems.

Western Europe auto output set to fall by one-third by 2030, with Germany hit hardest

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:50:02 GMT

Western Europe's auto industry is facing a deeper relocation shock, with passenger car and light commercial vehicle production projected to shrink by about one-third between 2015 and 2030 under pressure from slower-than-expected automotive electronics and electrification progress, geopolitics, trade tensions, and the shift toward localized manufacturing.

China's Nexchip breaks into foundry top eight after AI demand lifts market to record numbers

Levi Li — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:49:33 GMT

AI, high-performance computing, and early pull-ins from TV, PC, and notebook supply chains pushed the global foundry market to a record high in the first quarter of 2026. China's Nexchip Semiconductor delivered the key ranking shift, overtaking Taiwan's Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) for the first time to become the world's eighth-largest foundry.

AMD opens EFB front beyond CoWoS, putting Taiwan substrate trio in play

Levi Li — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:36:05 GMT

The AI data center buildout is driving demand for high-performance computing (HPC) and networking chips, sending the global IC substrate industry into a new growth cycle. Order visibility now extends two to three years, prompting Taiwan's three leading IC substrate suppliers, Unimicron, Kinsus, and Nanya PCB, to restart capacity expansion targeting GPU, CPU, and ASIC customers.

TSMC A16 takes center stage at VLSI 2026 as mass production targets 4Q26 ramp

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:24:47 GMT

Researchers and chipmakers presented new logic, memory, and device architectures at the 2026 IEEE/JSAP VLSI Technology and Circuits Symposium in Honolulu, with several results pointing toward pilot production and mass manufacturing.

Tesla files for supervised Full Self-Driving approval with Taiwan regulator

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:21:18 GMT

Tesla Taiwan announced on June 16 that it formally submitted application documents for its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system to Taiwan's Vehicle Safety Certification Center and said it will work with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to begin the regulatory review process. The filing covers an assisted-driving package that Tesla emphasized requires active driver supervision and remains classified as a Level 2 driver-assistance system.

Qualcomm weighs Tenstorrent deal that could reach US$10 billion

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:10:14 GMT

Qualcomm has been in talks to acquire Tenstorrent, an AI chip startup, The Information reported, citing a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The two companies have discussed a price of US$8 billion to US$10 billion, the person said, a significant premium to Tenstorrent's last known valuation.

China AI chip hopeful Enflame nears IPO with fast revenue growth, heavy losses, and Tencent risk

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 05:04:50 GMT

Shanghai Enflame Technology is nearing a STAR Market listing, bringing another Chinese AI chipmaker closer to public markets while losses, Tencent concentration, and a small share in Nvidia-led accelerators remain unresolved.

Huawei readies HarmonyOS desktop PCs for September enterprise launch

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 05:02:37 GMT

Huawei is preparing to launch commercial HarmonyOS-powered desktop PCs in September, marking another step in its effort to extend its self-developed operating system from smartphones and tablets into enterprise computing.

Walrus Pump sees stronger liquid cooling demand, eyes higher 2026 growth

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:53:23 GMT

AI server liquid cooling is driving demand for pump makers, a shift that could boost supply-chain resilience and margins for Asia-based manufacturers as AI deployments accelerate. Walrus Pump aims to achieve a 10% revenue share from liquid cooling by year-end 2026, supported by growing orders, technology pumps, and broader industrial demand.

Huawei's PanguLM comeback hinges on Richard Yu after credibility hit

Levi Li — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:53:04 GMT

Huawei is trying to restore the profile of PanguLM at a time when China's large AI model race is entering a tougher phase.

ByteDance in talks for Iluvatar, Baidu Kunlunxin AI chips as Doubao demand grows

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:48:40 GMT

ByteDance is in talks to buy AI chips from Shanghai-based Iluvatar CoreX and is also considering using Baidu's Kunlunxin chips, as the TikTok parent expands its domestic chip options amid rising inference demand from its AI chatbot Doubao.

Netronix's supply-chain discipline cushions memory shortages amid rising color e-book reader demand

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:48:06 GMT

Netronix said memory shortages are hitting the color e-book reader industry, but its long-built supply-chain management system and diversified production base have helped blunt the impact. The company stressed that it can still support customer demand as supply tightens, framing this as a competitive advantage.

Apple's Siri AI push drives 12GB DRAM demand for Samsung and SK Hynix

Lily Hess — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:47:23 GMT

Apple is stepping up the AI capabilities of its Siri voice assistant, and analysts say memory chip demand will rise along with it, potentially benefiting Apple's suppliers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The shift could drive both shipment growth and higher prices for mobile DRAM.

TSMC reportedly teams with Ibiden, Innolux to push CoPoS, glass substrates

Charlene Chen — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:35:11 GMT

TSMC is accelerating its advanced packaging roadmap for AI chips, expanding CoWoS capacity while publicly disclosing new progress in glass substrate technology. The company is also signaling that next-generation packaging competition is shifting from CoWoS toward CoPoS as it builds out a fuller ecosystem ahead of rivals.

Ubiqconn returns to YoY revenue growth in May as unmanned systems business expands

Eifeh Strom — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:22:41 GMT

Ubiqconn Technology reported consolidated revenue of NT$121 million (approx. US$3.84 million) for May 2026, down 7% from the previous month but up 2% year-over-year, marking a return to monthly revenue growth. Cumulative consolidated revenue for the first five months of 2026 totaled NT$799 million.

AMD to acquire MEXT to expand AI memory optimization tools

DIGITIMES — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:02:27 GMT

AMD said it will acquire MEXT, a move aimed at strengthening its AI and data center portfolio amid rising global memory demand. The deal is intended to help customers improve performance, reduce infrastructure costs, and accelerate the deployment of AI, analytics, and high-performance workloads across cloud and enterprise systems.

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.