DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Chenbro Micom sees AI-driven hardware surge bolstering global data center deployments

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 05:56:10 GMT

Chenbro Micom's strong March and first-quarter 2026 results underscore accelerating global demand for data center hardware driven by end-user AI, suggesting broader supply-chain and infrastructure implications for cloud providers, enterprises, and regional production strategies as companies scale up servers, storage, and networking gear to meet worldwide AI workload needs.

Aspeed and ASMedia propelled to top IC design ranks

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 04:25:51 GMT

Although Taiwanese firms have largely missed the core AI chip development battlefield, a few with critical technological barriers have broken through—most notably Aspeed and ASMedia. These two companies boast remarkable profitability and capital market performance that even outpace MediaTek, Taiwan's largest IC design firm. Significantly, their founding management teams mostly originated from the once-dominant PC chipset giants Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) and VIA Technologies.

Meta launches Muse Spark to champion next-gen AI assistant

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 04:15:00 GMT

Meta Platforms has unveiled Muse Spark, the first AI model from its newly formed Meta Superintelligence Labs, marking a major step in its efforts to regain momentum in an AI race dominated by OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, according to Reuters. Internally code-named Avocado, the model is designed to be small, fast, and efficient yet capable of handling complex tasks in science, math, and health.

India's measured reset with China highlights trade dependence and strategic calculus

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

India is cautiously recalibrating its economic relationship with China, easing restrictions on trade and investment while balancing supply chain needs with strategic concerns, according to government documents and multiple media reports.

Samsung P4 fab nears completion, expanding 1c DRAM capacity

Levi Li — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Samsung has entered the final phase of equipment investment at its P4 fab in Pyeongtaek, issuing purchase orders (POs) for front-end tools for Phase 2 (Ph2) and Phase 4 (Ph4). According to ZDNet Korea, Samsung placed the orders in March 2026 for the two remaining phases of the four-phase P4 project.

CATL invests in China's Zhongheng Electric as AI demand surges

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:53:42 GMT

As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates the buildout of data centers, the race to supply their enormous energy demands is drawing new alliances between China's technology and industrial giants.

Alibaba and Meta retreat from open-source AI

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:45:00 GMT

Alibaba and Meta are both recalibrating their artificial intelligence strategies, with recent product decisions pointing to a broader industry shift toward closed or hybrid models — even among companies long associated with open-source development.

When will CPO actually see mass production?

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:42:46 GMT

The market continues to closely watch the deployment of co-packaged optics (CPO) technology in cloud AI, driven by the desire of the silicon photonics (SiPh) ecosystem to see a tangible revenue impact. Cloud AI vendors are also hoping that adopting SiPh will simultaneously improve both cost efficiency and computational performance limits.

Hon Precision sees surging demand for AI infrastructure components

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:30:00 GMT

Hon Precision's strong March and first quarter 2026 results signal accelerating global demand for AI infrastructure components, with potential ripple effects on data center procurement and semiconductor test-equipment supply chains worldwide. The company's expanding orders for co-packaged optics, satellite communications, and AI accelerator testing equipment point to elevated capital spending across cloud providers.

Why global chipmakers want to join TSMC's certified supply chain

Lily Hess — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:27:01 GMT

TSMC's long-established supplier verification and management system is gradually becoming an industry standard, attracting major players worldwide. Samsung Electronics, Intel, Japan's Rapidus, China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), Hua Hong Semiconductor, Nexchip Semiconductor, and even Tesla CEO Elon Musk are actively engaging with Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain.

Apple reportedly kicks off foldable iPhone trial production, final mass production timing undecided

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:15:00 GMT

Apple's first foldable smartphone is generating significant buzz as one of the few compelling topics in an otherwise subdued smartphone market. According to Apple's supply chain sources, trial production for the foldable iPhone has begun, but the schedule for full-scale mass production remains subject to the company's final sign-off.

GITEX AI Asia opens in Singapore as focus shifts to infrastructure, deployment

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:07:04 GMT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond experimentation toward real-world deployment, as GITEX AI ASIA 2026 opened in Singapore, bringing together startups, investors, and enterprise leaders focused on scaling AI across industries.

Alibaba tightens AI strategy with CEO-led committee and executive reshuffle

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:00:30 GMT

Alibaba is restructuring its artificial intelligence (AI) leadership, forming a new CEO-led technology committee and streamlining executive responsibilities in a bid to accelerate innovation and stay competitive in China's fast-moving AI race.

Samsung profit jumps on memory rally, chips drive over 90% of earnings

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Samsung Electronics posted record first-quarter 2026 results, with more than 90% of earnings tied to its memory business, underscoring the scale of the AI-driven memory upcycle.

Samsung Foundry launches new 2nm temperature sensor IP to improve chip thermal and area efficiency

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:50:13 GMT

Samsung Electronics' foundry division has introduced a new temperature sensor intellectual property (IP) designed to address heat dissipation and area efficiency challenges in advanced 2nm process nodes. Industry experts view this move as Samsung's strategic effort to secure a technological edge over competitors.

MetaOptics claims three-year lead in advanced micro-optics

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:45:00 GMT

MetaOptics' emphasis on 150nm direct-write semiconductor techniques could reshape global supply chains for advanced micro-optics, promising higher optical efficiency and a manufacturing edge over imprint methods that struggle below 200nm. The development may affect suppliers, device makers, and research collaborations worldwide that are seeking compact, high-performance imaging components, thereby accelerating commercialization timelines.

Cyient Semiconductors closes US$85M majority stake in Kinetic Technologies, accelerating India-led power IC scale

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:42:20 GMT

India-based Cyient Semiconductors' US$85 million majority investment in Kinetic Technologies could expand end-to-end power semiconductor design and production capabilities from India, offering global customers broader access to custom silicon, ASSP products, and enhanced engineering and manufacturing resources, and accelerate deployment of advanced power management solutions across computing and industrial markets worldwide.

China's EVE Energy ramps up capacity amid energy storage boom

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:38:03 GMT

EVE Energy, one of China's largest battery manufacturers, said on April 7 that it expected strong profit growth in the first quarter of 2026 as demand for energy storage batteries continued to expand.

China faces 300,000 semiconductor talent gap, warns SMIC founder

Levi Li — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:35:21 GMT

China's semiconductor industry faces a widening talent gap even as global competition intensifies, exposing a structural constraint despite its rapid expansion.

CXMT IPO delay eases DRAM supply risks, supports pricing cycle

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:34:02 GMT

China's DRAM maker ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) may be delaying its IPO, easing near-term supply concerns, and reinforcing the current memory upcycle. Sources cited by iNews24 said CXMT had targeted a first-half 2026 IPO to fund capacity expansion of 60,000–70,000 wafers annually. With the listing paused, both capital deployment and expansion timelines are likely to be delayed.

Wi-Fi 7 orders set to overtake Wi-Fi 6 as businesses upgrade networks

Elaine Chen — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:28:21 GMT

After several years of anticipation, Wi-Fi 7 is finally beginning to gain traction. Industry suppliers say meaningful adoption did not begin until 2025, but many now expect 2026 to mark a turning point for the technology. Demand from corporate customers is rising particularly quickly, with Wi-Fi 7 orders projected to surpass Wi-Fi 6 for the first time this year. Still, a full-scale replacement cycle across the market may take another one to two years to complete.

ChipX targets AI data center market with photonics, power chips ahead of Malaysia fab

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:26:34 GMT

Semiconductor startup ChipX is moving to commercialize silicon photonics and high-voltage power chip technologies for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, as it advances plans to build a wafer fabrication facility in Malaysia, executives said in an exclusive interview with DIGITIMES Asia during a visit to Taipei.

EV market cooling pushes US battery makers into energy storage

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:25:39 GMT

US efforts to localize lithium battery production are encountering a new challenge: a mismatch between supply and demand, driven by political shifts and changes to subsidy programs. Batteries originally intended for the electric vehicle (EV) market are now in surplus, prompting manufacturers to rapidly rethink their strategies to avoid leaving billions of dollars in investments idle.

Phison Electronics sees AI-driven demand surge, downplays retail memory price swings

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:22:48 GMT

Phison Electronics reported consolidated revenue of NT$18.32 billion (approx. US$577.81 million) for March 2026, up 50% sequentially and 221% year over year, setting a new record high for a single month. Consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2026 reached NT$40.97 billion, a 196% year-over-year increase, also marking a record high.

Microloops rides AI boom, aims to double 2026 revenue

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:22:40 GMT

Cooling module manufacturer Microloops has said its major cloud service provider (CSP) customer has been increasing pull-ins starting in the second quarterof 2026, driving significant growth in cooling product shipments related to artificial intelligence (AI) servers. This is expected to boost the share of AI-related cooling products in overall revenue quarter by quarter.

Winmate eyes 2026 growth amid rising defense and edge AI demand

Rodney Chan — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:21:10 GMT

Winmate, an industrial PC (IPC) provider, has reported record-high revenue for March 2026 as global defense projects accelerate procurement and delivery schedules alongside growing demand for edge AI computing platforms. The company is actively preparing materials and ramping up production for the second half of 2026, maintaining an optimistic outlook for full-year 2026 growth.

Helium and tungsten shortages threaten South Korea's semiconductor industry

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:16:52 GMT

China's tightening grip on critical mineral exports is sending shockwaves through Asia's semiconductor supply chain. South Korea's chip industry, already on edge over the potential impact of the US-Iran conflict on helium supplies, is now confronting a more immediate threat: a looming shortage of tungsten hexafluoride (WF6). As Beijing's export controls on tungsten shipments to Japan grow increasingly restrictive, Korean chipmakers are finding it harder to secure one of the most essential gases in semiconductor manufacturing.

Corning's shift into AI server components could reshape data-center energy and supply-chain dynamics

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:15:08 GMT

Corning marks its 175th anniversary in 2026, celebrating a long history of materials innovation that began with contributions to Thomas Edison's light bulb and later the optical fiber revolution. The company positions itself at the center of a new technological transformation driven by AI infrastructure needs.

China accelerates semiconductor equipment localization; Korean firms eyeing Taiwan as orders slip

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 02:13:32 GMT

In response to US semiconductor sanctions and to accelerate AI industry development, China is aggressively promoting localization in semiconductor manufacturing. While South Korean equipment makers initially viewed this as an opportunity to expand in the Chinese market, the gradual implementation of a "50% localization rule" is now beginning to impact orders. Rapid technological progress by Chinese equipment vendors is expected to further squeeze foreign suppliers' presence in China.

China's memory capacity surge led by YMTC and CXMT shifts global supply in AI cycle

Levi Li — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 01:40:28 GMT

Global memory markets are entering a new restructuring cycle driven by AI demand, with China's YMTC and CXMT scaling capacity and state-backed investment to gain share in a sector long led by US, South Korean, and Japanese suppliers.

Intel–Terafab collaboration highlights potential role for 18A in next-generation AI manufacturing

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 01:00:48 GMT

The collaboration between Intel and Elon Musk under the Terafab initiative is emerging as a potential catalyst for demand for Intel's most advanced manufacturing node, 18A, even as key details of the partnership remain undisclosed.

Transcend posts record March sales, 1Q26 revenue hits nearly 80% of 2025

Lily Hess — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:59:16 GMT

Memory module maker Transcend reported a new monthly revenue high in March 2026 of NT$5.7 billion (approx. US$178.8 million), up 78.6% month-over-month and 3.8 times year-over-year. The company's consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2026 reached NT$13.6 billion, marking the highest quarterly revenue in its history.

Apple hit by Mac shipping delays as DRAM shortage intensifies

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:59:05 GMT

Apple's US online store is currently showing extreme shipping delays of 4-5 months for several upgraded RAM configurations of the Mac mini and Mac Studio, highlighting a severe supply bottleneck in its high-end desktop lineup.

Geopolitics and AI is redrawing the global chip packaging landscape

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:57:03 GMT

The AI computing boom is reshaping where semiconductors get packaged. Geopolitical pressure and supply chain diversification are pushing capacity well beyond its traditional strongholds in Taiwan and China.

Nvidia demo highlights China's role in humanoid robot hardware

DIGITIMES — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:56:51 GMT

Nvidia, Google, and Tesla are driving the humanoid robotics race, but competition is shifting to the hardware supply chain. The US leads in AI models and advanced chips, while China's manufacturing ecosystem is becoming central to global humanoid robot production.

Samsung plans to add Pro model to Galaxy S27 lineup

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:56:28 GMT

Samsung Electronics plans to introduce a new "Pro" model in its 2027 Galaxy S27 series, expanding its flagship lineup. Industry analysts believe this move aims to broaden consumer choices and counter Apple's four-model iPhone strategy.

LinkCom sees 11% revenue drop in 1Q26 as DRAM shortage hits networking market

Lily Hess — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:55:43 GMT

Magnetic component maker LinkCom Manufacturing reported that its revenue for the first quarter of 2026 fell by over 11% year-over-year, mainly due to the indirect impact of a supply-demand imbalance in the DRAM market, dampening short-term orders from network communication customers. The company has also been strategically optimizing its wireless charging business during this period.

Zensemi strengthens automotive chip team with hiring of industry veterans KC Ang and Marco Maria Monti

Lily Hess — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:55:26 GMT

China-based automotive semiconductor wafer foundry Zensemi has announced a new management team led by chairman Xiaofei Chen, appointing two internationally experienced executives: KC Ang as general manager and Marco Maria Monti as co-general manager. This leadership restructuring signals Zensemi's ambition to expand its presence in the automotive and specialty process wafer markets by integrating global expertise.

French President's visit reportedly links Mistral AI with Samsung for AI memory supply talks

Charlene Chen — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:55:06 GMT

French AI startup Mistral AI recently visited Samsung Electronics' campus to discuss collaboration on AI memory solutions. Industry analysts see this move as part of Mistral AI's push to build Europe's largest AI infrastructure, signaling Samsung as a key partner for memory chips.

Shanghai GTA Semiconductor teams up with Infineon on SONOS memory for automotive chips

Levi Li — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:54:54 GMT

Shanghai state-backed foundry GTA Semiconductor has partnered with Infineon Technologies to introduce SONOS-based embedded non-volatile memory (eNVM) into production, positioning itself more firmly in automotive and industrial chip supply chains.

AI chip demand tightens ABF substrate supply, three-year upcycle in sight

Levi Li — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:54:40 GMT

As AI CPUs, GPUs, and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) advance to new generations, they are driving a sharp increase in both substrate size and layer counts. Simultaneously, supply constraints across upstream materials — including glass fiber cloth, copper foil, and drill bits — are creating bottlenecks that are gradually tilting capacity toward a supply shortfall and extending forward visibility across the IC substrate sector.

Taiwan advances quantum computing with AI collab as key strategy

Rodney Chan — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:54:20 GMT

The Taiwanese government has launched the second phase of its quantum research subsidy program, with the National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC) set to build an HPQC heterogeneous hybrid computing system. Models such as those from Amazon Braket and Google demonstrate that integrating AI collaboration into cloud services is emerging as a clearer development path for quantum computing.

Silicon Motion warns AI-driven NAND shortages will deepen in 2027, reshaping memory market

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 00:54:04 GMT

Silicon Motion said AI-driven NAND supply constraints are causing structural shifts in the memory industry and warned the imbalance will worsen in 2027 as cloud service provider demand outpaces capacity. The company expects growth across product lines in 2026 despite weakening mobile and consumer shipments.

DIGITIMES analyst discusses Apple's Siri evolution, AI agent trends, and Samsung's 2nm reality

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 10:07:22 GMT

In his podcast, DIGITIMES senior analyst Luke Lin discussed Apple's upcoming evolution of Siri. The new version is expected to integrate Google's Gemini and allow users to select their preferred chatbot, including ChatGPT, Claude, or xAI's Grok. While some market analysts suggest Apple may use this approach to control distribution and charge listing fees, Lin is skeptical of that interpretation.