DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

South Korea's OLED share rebounds to 68.7% in 2025

Charlene Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:58:23 GMT

South Korea's global OLED market share increased by 1.5pp to 68.7% in 2025, marking its first rise in a decade and drawing widespread attention. According to Chosun Biz, the Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA) cited Omdia data showing South Korean companies regained ground in the OLED sector after years of decline.

NB plans plan to cut NRE and tooling fees, Chinese ODMs expand manufacturing footprint

Emily Kuo — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:50:08 GMT

Sources from the notebook (NB) supply chain stated that Taiwanese ODM manufacturers that once stood at the forefront of the market are gradually stepping back, with Chinese ODM manufacturers beginning to take over. This shift is built on three conditions: first, shortages and rising prices of key components have pushed brand vendors to take aggressive measures to protect profits; second, the capabilities of Chinese manufacturers have improved; and third, Taiwanese ODMs are redirecting resources toward higher-growth AI opportunities such as servers.

China Electric manufacturing bets on AI to revive growth

Elaine Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:49:17 GMT

More than 70 years after its founding, China Electric Manufacturing Corporation has built a steady market position under its "TOA" lighting brand. Now, the company is turning to artificial intelligence in an effort to revive growth.

Commentary: Taiwan’s optics industry finds a new role in the AI imaging boom

Elaine Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:48:30 GMT

For more than a decade, the global imaging market has been defined by a clear divide: on one side, rugged, lightweight action cameras built for stability and portability; on the other, professional DSLR and mirrorless systems designed to push the limits of optical physics and image quality. In 2026, that boundary is beginning to collapse.

AU Optronics posts slight first-quarter loss and warns of softer consumer electronics orders

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:41:29 GMT

AU Optronics reported first-quarter 2026 consolidated revenue of NT$69.03 billion (US$2.19 billion) and a net loss attributable to parent shareholders of NT$1.14 billion, the firm announced at an investor briefing on April 30. Revenue fell 1.6% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2025 and declined 4.3% year-on-year, while basic earnings per share were a loss of NT$0.15.

UMC stresses disciplined price hike, Intel deal, and memory foundry rumors draw attention

Charlene Chen — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:39:06 GMT

United Microelectronics (UMC) held its earnings call, where market focus centered on its recent price increases, progress in silicon photonics (SiPh) and advanced packaging, and speculation about entering memory foundry services.

Wingtech losses widen on Nexperia dispute, triggering delisting risk

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:59:40 GMT

China's Wingtech Technology is entering a critical phase marked by a sharp deterioration in financial performance, regulatory scrutiny, and operational disruption tied to its contested control of Nexperia. The convergence of these pressures is not merely a balance sheet issue — it reflects how geopolitical intervention and corporate restructuring are reshaping China-linked semiconductor groups with overseas operations.

Corning reports first-quarter 2026 growth and advances portfolio restructuring under Springboard plan

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:55:43 GMT

Corning Incorporated reported higher first-quarter 2026 core sales and earnings while outlining continued restructuring efforts across its operating model, including expanded platform-based businesses, segment realignment, and upgrades to its long-term growth plan.

Taiwan's AI push awaits legislative green light

Lily Hess — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:52:54 GMT

Given Taiwan's crucial role in the AI supply chain, Cheng-wen Wu, chairman of the country's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), called on Taiwan's legislature to pass the central government's budget proposal, which remains under review. He emphasized that Taiwan must not only lead in AI hardware production, but also advance AI applications.

Microsoft sales beat estimates as Azure growth eases spending concerns

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:41:56 GMT

Microsoft reported stronger-than-expected fiscal third-quarter results, as Azure growth, Microsoft Cloud demand, and rising Copilot adoption helped ease investor concerns over the company's heavy spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Cambricon earnings surge on AI compute demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:04:39 GMT

China's Cambricon Technologies reported a sharp rise in first-quarter 2026 earnings, driven by surging AI compute demand, while intensifying competition and shifting investor positioning reshape the domestic AI chip market.

SK Group chairman urges Korea-Japan integration to boost bargaining power amid US-China tech rivalry

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:52:04 GMT

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won urged South Korea to pursue deep economic integration with Japan to gain strategic influence amid US-China tech tensions, arguing that a larger Korea-Japan bloc could reshape global bargaining power in energy, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure, with implications for markets and diplomacy worldwide.

Chang Wah Technology forecasts double-digit growth in the second quarter on EMC LED strength

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:39:45 GMT

Packaging leadframe maker Chang Wah Technology Co., Ltd. reported that it achieved NT$3.672 billion (US$116 million) in revenue in the first quarter of 2026, its fourth-highest quarterly result, and set a monthly record with NT$1.327 billion in March. The firm said customers maintained steady demand, and it was targeting a challenging double-digit percentage growth for the second quarter, driven by strong shipments of EMC LED leadframes.

Lenovo sets US$100 billion revenue target as AI PCs and GPU servers drive growth

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:34:08 GMT

Lenovo Group told suppliers at its 2026 Global Supplier Conference on April 29 in Hefei that it expected surging demand for AI PCs and GPU servers to lift revenues and that the company aimed to exceed US$100 billion in annual revenue within two years. Executives said the company forecast record results for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 as AI workloads expanded across endpoints and infrastructure.

LG Electronics and Nvidia to explore AI partnership in robotics, data centers, and mobility

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:12:01 GMT

South Korea's LG Electronics and US chipmaker Nvidia are exploring a potential partnership spanning robotics, AI data centers, and mobility, signaling how traditional hardware companies are repositioning for the next phase of AI.

ASE raises 2026 capex to record US$8.5 billion on strong advanced packaging demand

Sherri Wang — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:05:29 GMT

ASE Technology Holding Co. raised its 2026 capex plan to as much as US$8.5 billion as demand for advanced packaging and testing services exceeded expectations, the company said.

CyberLink warns AI search and memory costs may dent growth in 2Q26

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:59:32 GMT

Multimedia software developer CyberLink reported steady first-quarter 2026 results but warned that growth will face headwinds in the second quarter 2026 from generative AI search and rising memory costs, a combination that could affect global software markets reliant on search-driven traffic and PC-dependent product bundles, as well as investor sentiment worldwide.

Samsung highlights stable 4nm tech as AI, automotive demand grow

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:58:32 GMT

Samsung Electronics is emphasizing the maturity and yield stability of its 4nm FinFET process as it seeks to secure more foundry customers, amid rising demand for larger and more complex artificial intelligence (AI) chips, according to Korean media reports and company disclosures.

OpenAI accelerates Stargate build, surpasses 10GW US goal, and expands community-focused approach

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:52:12 GMT

OpenAI announced it has exceeded its initial Stargate commitment by securing more than 10GW of AI infrastructure in the US ahead of schedule, adding over 3GW in the past 90 days. Stargate was launched to meet rapidly growing demand for AI from consumers, businesses, developers, and governments by bringing new capacity online faster and at scale.

Amazon highlights US$50 billion chip potential and advances LEO satellite plans

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:49:04 GMT

On April 29, Amazon told investors on its first-quarter 2026 earnings call that AWS continued to accelerate, while the company doubled down on its custom chip business and pushed forward with plans for the Amazon low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite service, including the planned acquisition of Globalstar. Executives framed the moves as complementary elements of a broader strategy to capture a wave of demand driven by generative AI, even as they flagged memory and storage supply pressures and elevated capital spending tied to cloud and satellite buildouts.

Alphabet's 1Q26 earnings call: AI boom hits a capacity ceiling

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:35:16 GMT

Alphabet's first-quarter 2026 earnings call was less a victory lap than a capacity warning. Management's message was clear: AI is now lifting Search, Cloud, ads, subscriptions, and developer usage, but the company's next phase of growth may hinge less on product demand than on how quickly it can bring enough compute online.

Qualcomm to ship custom product with hyperscaler in 4Q26

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:19:30 GMT

In an earnings call on April 29, Qualcomm told investors it expects initial shipments of a custom silicon engagement with a leading hyperscaler in the December quarter, a milestone executives said will mark the start of a multi‑generation partnership

Samsung Electronics' record chip profits signal strengthening AI memory supercycle

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:19:29 GMT

Samsung Electronics reported a sharp increase in first-quarter 2026 profitability, led by its semiconductor division, as AI-driven demand for memory chips continued to accelerate. The company's chip unit delivered an operating profit of approximately KRW53.7 trillion (US$360 billion), accounting for the vast majority of group earnings and marking a significant expansion from the prior year.

Nissan's restructuring yields operating profit, but net loss persists as sales slump

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:03:53 GMT

Nissan Motor's three-year Re:Nissan plan is beginning to show results, forecasting operating profit for fiscal 2026 despite falling sales. For international stakeholders, this signals that currency moves, regulatory shifts, and aggressive cost cuts can restore profitability even as restructuring costs and market declines reshape alliance and production strategies worldwide.

China photonics chipmaker Lightelligence lists in HK, CPO commercialization in focus

Levi Li — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:53:53 GMT

As generative AI drives a sharp rise in computing demand, traditional electrical interconnect architectures are increasingly constrained by power consumption and density limits. On April 28, 2026, China-based silicon photonics chip developer Lightelligence debuted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with its share price surging at the open and its market capitalization briefly reaching HK$77.8 billion (US$10 billion).

Amazon posts solid growth as AWS and AI investments drive momentum

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:47:21 GMT

ON April 29, Amazon reported first-quarter results that exceeded expectations on key metrics, supported by continued strength in its cloud and advertising businesses. Revenue rose to about US$181.5 billion, while operating income increased to roughly US$23.9 billion, reflecting steady expansion across core segments. Net income also climbed significantly on both a quarterly and annual basis.

Qualcomm flags near-term headwinds as data center push gains traction

DIGITIMES — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:31:56 GMT

Qualcomm reported results broadly in line with its guidance, but noted ongoing headwinds from memory supply constraints and soft smartphone demand. Revenue for the fiscal second quarter came in at about US$10.6 billion, down sequentially and slightly lower year-over-year, while operating income also declined. Profit rose sharply every quarter, reflecting prior-period impacts and cost dynamics.

China halts new autonomous driving permits after Baidu Apollo Go robotaxi failure

Elaine Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:32:48 GMT

After a widespread malfunction involving Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi service in Wuhan left passengers stranded and disrupted traffic, Chinese authorities have reportedly suspended the issuance of new autonomous driving permits. It marks at least the second time regulators have halted approvals following an incident linked to Baidu.

Google's TPU shortage lays bare a widening AI infrastructure edge

Elaine Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:32:20 GMT

The AI infrastructure race is no longer just about who builds the best model — it's about who controls the silicon beneath it. Google has spent more than a decade quietly constructing that foundation, and the results are now showing.

AI drives power interconnect surge as BizLink and JPC target high-end markets

Lily Hess — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:31:29 GMT

The AI wave is driving the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure, fundamentally reshaping server rack power transmission designs amid rising power consumption. This shift is triggering a surge in demand and specification upgrades for power interconnect products.

OpenAI stirs smartphone industry with 2028 AI agent phone plans

Charlene Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:31:03 GMT

OpenAI is advancing the development of an AI agent smartphone, collaborating with MediaTek and Qualcomm on a customized processor, while China's Luxshare Precision Industry exclusively handles system integration and manufacturing. The device is expected to enter mass production by 2028, signaling OpenAI's strategic push toward the most mature and intimate personal terminal: the smartphone.

Samsung SDI narrows loss as General Motors joint venture delay spurs LFP review

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:30:45 GMT

Samsung SDI reported a sharply reduced operating loss for the first quarter of 2026 as its US joint venture with General Motors (GM) is reviewing a delay to its production timeline, according to company disclosures, Korean media reports, and industry sources.

Nvidia CEO says Google's TPUs pose no threat as AI chip race heats up

Lily Hess — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:28:29 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently stated that Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) do not constitute a real threat to Nvidia. He made the comments during an interview on the Dwarkesh Podcast, where he also addressed the company's rise to a US$4 trillion market value in the large language model (LLM) era and the competitive landscape of AI chips.

Amkor advances data center CPU mass production amid manageable supply and cost risks

Charlene Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:28:03 GMT

Amkor, the world's second-largest OSAT provider, recently held its earnings call where CEO Kevin Engel highlighted strong demand for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) chips driving robust orders for advanced packaging technologies like high-density fan-out (HDFO) and flip-chip. The company's HDFO packaging platform, which had already shipped two PC chip models, has now successfully integrated an AI data center CPU application set to enter mass production in the second quarter of 2026.

Taiwan's UMT reports record profit on satellite demand

Elaine Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:27:47 GMT

Universal Microwave Technology, a Taiwanese maker of satellite and millimeter-wave components, reported record quarterly revenue and profit, driven by surging demand for low-Earth orbit satellite equipment.

Taiwan launches all-photonic network to strengthen data center resilience and AI computing backup

Rodney Chan — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:27:04 GMT

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has pledged to transform Taiwan into an "AI island," with a key focus on developing an all-photonic network (APN). The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is acquiring APN technology from Japan's NTT and collaborating with Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) and Accton Technology to advance this initiative. Industry experts say the APN is designed to support applications through low latency and enhanced computing resilience, in line with government goals for digital robustness and computing backup.

Taiwan drones enter Ukraine battlefield, transport model drives global market expansion

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:26:41 GMT

Taiwan's expanding drone exports to Central and Eastern Europe, largely transshipped to Ukraine, underscore growing supply-chain and security implications. Growing shipments and combat deployment create opportunities for Taiwan to deepen industrial partnerships, complicate European procurement dynamics, and push democratic allies to reduce reliance on China for critical drone components and logistics.

Analysis: Chinese smart home brands outpace Western rivals with relentless innovation

Emily Kuo — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:26:22 GMT

Chinese smart home appliance brands have swept across global consumer markets on the strength of youthful, innovative brand images. Analysts point to one defining trait: product iteration cycles so fast that even European and American rivals struggle to match them. That pace, combined with a recent wave of acquisitions targeting Western and Japanese brands, has given Chinese makers growing momentum and an increasingly firm grip on the global home appliance market.

Realtek, Airoha target European and US networking infrastructure amid consumer slowdown

Emily Kuo — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:26:03 GMT

Although demand prospects for consumer applications remain relatively weak in 2026, major Taiwanese IC design companies focused on networking infrastructure chips — including Realtek Semiconductor and Airoha Technology — are still expected to deliver strong performances.

UMC profit doubles, touts Intel-backed US manufacturing option

Joseph(C) Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:07:12 GMT

United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) reported first-quarter 2026 net profit of NT$16.17 billion (approximately $490 million), up 61% quarter on quarter and more than double the year-ago figure, as wafer shipments and utilization rates both recovered. Revenue came in at NT$61.04 billion, up 5.5% year on year, with gross margin at 29.2%.