DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Apple PCB suppliers press ahead with iPhone 18 buildup despite memory price shock

Levi Li — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 02:55:14 GMT

Despite rising concerns over memory price hikes, Apple's PCB supply chain has seen little change to the company's 2026 order pull-in schedule as of the second quarter, according to people familiar with the PCB industry.

Qualcomm's Dragonfly raises the stakes, but MediaTek's TPU and ASIC ties keep it in the race

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 02:53:15 GMT

Qualcomm recently launched its Dragonfly platform, signaling a deeper push into cloud artificial intelligence and intensifying competition with MediaTek. For global readers, the move highlights how chip suppliers are jockeying to win long-term contracts from major cloud providers, where design wins can shape revenue, supply chains, and future AI infrastructure.

Techman Robot upgrades automotive production lines at Quanta Computer Germany plant with AI cobots

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 02:45:59 GMT

Techman Robot announced its artificial intelligence (AI) collaborative robots (cobots) have been successfully deployed at parent company Quanta Computer's automotive computer and automotive electronics manufacturing facility in Germany.

USMCA review and post-Brexit rules cloud auto supply chain

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 02:43:25 GMT

The global auto industry is facing a sharper supply chain shock from trade policy, as the US, Canada, and Mexico begin a mandatory review of the USMCA, and post-Brexit sourcing rules tighten in Europe. Automakers are being forced to weigh higher costs, shifting tariffs, and growing uncertainty across two major markets.

SoftBank leads Japan's sovereign AI push, with Foxconn eyeing the compute backbone

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 02:33:25 GMT

Japan's sovereign AI push is moving from policy ambition to industrial buildout, with SoftBank-backed Noetra at the center, and Foxconn emerging as a likely infrastructure partner. Backed by substantial public funding, the program signals Tokyo's intent to treat compute capacity, data centers, and domestic control over AI systems as strategic priorities.

Fujifilm India signs MoU to assess semiconductor materials manufacturing in Gujarat

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 02:09:22 GMT

Fujifilm India said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gujarat State Electronics Mission, under the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of Gujarat, to explore opportunities for manufacturing semiconductor materials in India and strengthening domestic supply chain capabilities.

Meta's alleged turn from AI buyer to seller raises new questions about AI spending, returns, and competition

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 02:01:14 GMT

Meta Platforms' reported interest in selling excess AI computing capacity has stirred debate over whether the company is seeking a new way to monetize heavy infrastructure spending or signaling a larger shift in competition across cloud computing and AI services. The Bloomberg report pressured several AI infrastructure stocks and raised fresh questions about supply, demand, and valuation.

Europe's heatwave turns air conditioners into power chip growth story

Levi Li — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 01:46:55 GMT

Europe's intensifying heatwave is reshaping the region's air conditioner market, driving a surge in China's air conditioner exports and lifting demand for upstream power semiconductors, power management ICs and mature-node capacity.

PlayStation to end physical game discs for new releases from 2028

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 01:31:35 GMT

In a blog post on July 1, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) said it will stop producing physical discs for all new games released on PlayStation consoles beginning in January 2028, marking a major shift toward digital distribution after more than three decades of disc-based game sales. Existing games and titles scheduled for release before the deadline will remain available on physical media.

Ericsson says AI demand is accelerating 5G SA and FWA deployment

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 01:21:02 GMT

Ericsson Taiwan president David Chou said the rapid expansion of AI applications and sustained enterprise investment in cloud computing are making mobile networks a critical layer of the AI era, with AI, cloud and mobile connectivity now forming an interdependent technology stack.

Alltop projects cautious 2H26 growth led by AI servers and recovering EV demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 00:10:41 GMT

Connector and cable maker Alltop is signaling that global demand trends may increasingly favor AI infrastructure and a later recovery in electric vehicles, with its latest outlook pointing to a stronger second half of 2026. The company also said it is adjusting its product mix, capacity, and costs to navigate shifting customer demand worldwide.

LG Electronics creates robot business center to scale physical AI and robotics supply chain

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 00:08:35 GMT

LG Electronics announced the creation of a robot business center to accelerate its physical AI and robotics efforts, the company said. The new organization will consolidate development, supply chain and manufacturing resources and will report directly to the chief executive, signaling that robotics is a core growth area following the unveiling of the CLOiD home robot at CES 2026.

Hotai Motor trims Taiwan auto market outlook but keeps 2026 sales target

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 00:07:36 GMT

Hotai Motor has cut its 2026 Taiwan auto market forecast, signaling softer demand may linger after tariff-related weakness in the first half. The move matters beyond Taiwan because shortages of hybrids, electric vehicles, and US-made models continue to shape availability and pricing for global buyers, automakers, and suppliers.

Tesla jumps to second as Taiwan auto sales rebound in June

DIGITIMES — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 00:05:21 GMT

Taiwan's auto market posted a strong rebound in June 2026, signaling firmer demand in a key Asian economy watched by global carmakers. Registrations rose sharply in the month and year, led by Toyota's steady performance and a surge in Tesla deliveries that reshaped the local ranking.

Huawei raises prices despite China smartphone gains, exposing AI cost squeeze

DIGITIMES — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:54:29 GMT

Huawei's planned July price increase shows that China's smartphone cost crunch has moved from supplier negotiations to consumer pricing, even for a domestic brand gaining market share.

Sovereign connectivity race accelerates: Japan readies subsidy for Rakuten-led satellite network

DIGITIMES — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:53:58 GMT

Japan is preparing to support a Rakuten-led low-Earth orbit satellite communications project, as the country looks to reduce reliance on foreign satellite networks and build a domestic direct-to-mobile connectivity layer for disasters, remote areas, and future digital infrastructure.

GIS pivots to semiconductors and optics as memory shortages hit touch demand

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:53:11 GMT

Touch module maker General Interface Solution Holding (GIS) said the second half of 2026 will be more challenging as global memory shortages weaken end-market demand, compounded by the planned year-end closure of Sharp subsidiary Sakai Display Products' (SDP) large-size display panel plant.

Samsung exec calls for nuclear expansion to support Gwangju fab plan

DIGITIMES — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:52:51 GMT

Samsung Electronics' plan to build two new semiconductor fabs in Gwangju is turning South Korea's southwest chip push into a test of whether the country can deliver enough power, water and permits to support a second major production base outside the Seoul metropolitan area.

Samsung showcases 3D stacked transistor breakthrough for next-gen chips

DIGITIMES — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:52:37 GMT

Samsung Electronics has unveiled new research on a three-dimensional transistor architecture that it says could help extend logic chip scaling beyond the limits of today's semiconductor designs, as the industry searches for ways to improve performance after decades of shrinking transistor dimensions.

GaAs and InP price hikes hit Taiwan supply chain

Lily Hess — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:52:15 GMT

Compound semiconductor epitaxy makers are raising prices again for gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) epi wafers, as persistent raw material cost increases, supply chain shortages, and inflation continue to weigh on the industry. Taiwanese suppliers warn that output in the second half of the year remains tied to material restrictions.

AI server demand drives MiTAC to expand in Taiwan, Vietnam, and California

Lily Hess — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:51:53 GMT

MiTAC Holdings' subsidiary, MiTAC Computing Technology, has won strong demand from US cloud customers, driving a sharp rise in orders and a global expansion plan from Asia to North America starting in 2025. With new capacity set to come online in 2026 and additional North American output in the second half of the year, the company expects a clear uplift in operations.

General-purpose server shipments surge, boosting Taiwanese connector makers

Lily Hess — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:51:38 GMT

Agentic AI demand is driving major US cloud providers such as Google and Amazon to expand data centers, lifting global server shipments and triggering a new wave of orders for Taiwan connector makers. DIGITIMES Research expects worldwide server shipments to grow more than 19% in 2026, approaching 20 million units.

Cloud AI squeezes 2nm capacity, pressuring mobile SoCs

Charlene Chen — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:51:23 GMT

Mobile system-on-chip (SoC) vendors are collectively upgrading flagship platforms to 2nm in 2026. Beyond the need for better specifications, the bigger goal is to avoid the most heavily booked 3nm process and secure more supply.

Taiwan eyes 2028 carbon trading market launch, but experts warn of risks and timing

Willis Ke — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:50:57 GMT

Taiwan plans to launch an emissions trading system (ETS) in 2028 as the next phase of its carbon pricing framework — a cap-and-trade market where companies buy and sell permits to emit greenhouse gases. However, environmental researchers and academics caution that the experiences of Japan, South Korea, and the European Union (EU) show that emissions trading markets take years to mature and operate effectively. With Taiwan's own carbon fee only recently taking effect, they argue the government should prioritize policy continuity and give businesses time to internalize carbon costs and implement decarbonization strategies before introducing a cap-and-trade regime.

IBM's 0.7nm chip claim revives debate over semiconductor node naming

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 23:50:11 GMT

As semiconductor manufacturing enters the 2nm era, conventional transistor scaling is approaching its physical limits. On June 25, 2026, IBM unveiled what it described as the world's first sub-1-nanometer chip technology, featuring a 0.7nm (7-angstrom) process node. The research chip integrates nearly 100 billion transistors into an area roughly the size of a fingernail, marking a significant milestone in semiconductor scaling.

Nvidia GPU-network ecosystem tops data center Ethernet switches

Charlene Chen — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 09:26:50 GMT

According to IDC's latest data, Nvidia's networking business has surged to the top, with the company becoming the revenue leader in the global data center Ethernet switch market for the first time in the first quarter of 2026. This is an arena traditionally contested by network equipment vendors such as Arista Networks, Cisco, Huawei, and HPE, with switch chip suppliers such as Broadcom deeply involved.

As Acer nears its 50th anniversary, Stan Shih says 'Business Family' model offers more sustainable future

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 09:19:49 GMT

As the Acer Group approaches its 50th anniversary, founder Stan Shih said the company's greatest legacy is not a single corporation, but what he calls the AAQW Business Family—a network of independently managed companies united by a shared corporate culture rather than family ownership.

Analysis: Apple isn't a victim of memory price surge; it's the biggest winner

DIGITIMES — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 08:55:48 GMT

Every major consumer electronics company has raised prices this year. The reason, in almost every case, is the same: memory costs have surged, driven by AI data center demand that has overwhelmed global DRAM and NAND supply. Apple raised prices on its MacBook and iPad lines, too. However, to group Apple's move with everyone else's is to miss what is actually happening.

Yageo chairman takes control of Anpec board

Charlene Chen — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 08:45:34 GMT

After Yageo confirmed its stake in Taiwanese power management IC maker Anpec, attention has turned to whether the group will deepen its involvement in Anpec's operations as part of a broader consolidation strategy. Anpec previously said that, based on the current understanding between the two companies, Yageo invested because it sees Anpec's operating performance as attractive and wants exposure to the semiconductor industry. Yageo also planned to use its distribution channels to help bring products to international markets and had no intention of intervening in operations. However, Anpec's leadership change suggests the two sides have clearly agreed to deepen cooperation.

Yageo to raise capacitor prices, extending AI cost pressure to EMS and OEM customers

Levi Li — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 08:39:37 GMT

Leading passive components supplier Yageo is reportedly set to raise capacitor prices across the board from July 1, according to supply chain sources. The price hikes will cover tantalum capacitors, multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), film capacitors, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, and solid capacitors, with average increases ranging from 10-20%. For the first time, the adjustment will also apply to direct customers, including EMS and OEM manufacturers.

Surging oil prices drive demand spike in Europe's used EV market

Kevin Wang — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 08:21:51 GMT

Rising oil prices as a result of the war in Iran have caused the originally sluggish used electric vehicle (EV) market in Europe to flip, with demand now outpacing supply. Three-year-old used EVs are now priced at around EUR20,000, falling within reach of most consumers, while also offering lower long-term charging costs than fuel for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. However, it remains to be seen how long this demand surge will last.

OpenAI engineers claim to discover way to cut inference costs in half

DIGITIMES — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 07:58:18 GMT

OpenAI engineers claim to have figured out a way to halve the costs of inference using its models, according to The Information. The development comes as AI model developers are seeking to raise their models' token efficiency during a time when enterprise users are being saddled with enormous AI-usage bills.

TMY Technology clears Taiwan listing review, satellite and defense businesses drive turnaround

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 07:45:08 GMT

The Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) Listing Review Committee approved TMY Technology Inc.'s application to list on the Taiwan Innovation Board (TIB) on June 30. The proposed listing remains subject to final approval by the TWSE board of directors.

Samsung, SK Hynix southwest fab plans put Gwangju's silicon photonics ambitions in focus

Sherri Wang — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 07:31:39 GMT

Samsung Electronics' and SK Hynix's planned memory investments in South Korea's southwest have mostly been viewed as a push to balance regional development and tap into local renewable energy.

Tenstorrent's Jim Keller says startup will outpace Cerebras as AI chip competition intensifies

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 07:28:03 GMT

AI chip competition is widening beyond raw performance, a shift that matters for global cloud providers, device makers, and investors. Tenstorrent chief executive Jim Keller says the startup can outdo Cerebras, while also courting Intel, Qualcomm, and hyperscalers for licensing deals, acquisitions, and future chip deployments.