DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Analysis: Taiwan's two major panel makers enter semiconductor packaging; CPO and FOPLP become key

Emily Kuo — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:57:04 GMT

Optical communication technology is shifting from traditional pluggable optics toward co-packaged optics (CPO) architectures. Advanced packaging technologies are extending from wafer-level to panel-level, bringing fan-out panel-level packaging (FOPLP) into the spotlight. At the intersection of these trends, Taiwan's panel manufacturers are actively entering the semiconductor packaging field in search of new growth momentum.

Memory test capacity stays high as substrate prices may rise in 2Q26

Charlene Chen — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:56:46 GMT

The memory industry cycle is on the upswing, driven by strong customer orders, rising OSAT prices, and high capacity utilization rates. Memory OSAT companies reported a surprisingly robust first quarter of 2026 despite the usual seasonal slowdown. With DRAM demand remaining strong and upstream substrate material costs increasing, market watchers expect key raw material price hikes to become a trend. Continued healthy customer demand should further boost OSAT capacity utilization, supporting revenue growth into the second quarter of 2026.

PCB industry urges four policy moves in Thailand expansion

Eifeh Strom — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:56:12 GMT

Amid global supply chain restructuring, Asia's PCB industry is moving toward closer regional collaboration. Industry experts say that as southbound expansion in the PCB sector takes shape, the next phase for Thailand's PCB industry will shift from capacity expansion to accelerating the development of an advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Future competitiveness will hinge on localizing supply chains, developing talent, and continuously improving related supporting infrastructure and systems.

China high-end AI accelerator market 2026: Localization trends, competitive landscape, and supply chain constraints

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:03:11 GMT

Government policies drive China's chip autonomy; 2026 Chinese cloud AI accelerator shipments to top 2.12 million units, with Huawei taking over 50%.

Nvidia signs record Bengaluru office lease as India AI push accelerates

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:42:02 GMT

Nvidia has signed a 10-year lease for approximately 760,000 square feet of office space in Bengaluru, marking the largest single-tenant office commitment in India to date. The space, located at Bagmane Capital's Memphis South Tower in Mahadevpura, spans 12 floors and will serve as a major hub for the company's expanding artificial intelligence (AI) and engineering operations.

Nanya breaks into Nvidia's AI memory ecosystem with LPDDR

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:35:12 GMT

Nvidia's next-generation AI platform Vera Rubin is approaching mass production, with a key architectural shift favoring low-power DRAM. Sources familiar with the matter say Nanya Technology has secured a supply chain position through LPDDR products, supported by an advanced packaging collaboration with TSMC. The move marks the first entry by a Taiwanese memory maker into Nvidia's AI server primary memory ecosystem.

Acer's 50th anniversary focuses on talent cultivation in Taiwan

Lily Hess — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:20:19 GMT

Acer is celebrating its 50th anniversary, having started in 1976 with a total capital of NT$1 million (US$31,800 in today's value). As of April 27, 2026, the broader Acer Group family includes 43 publicly listed companies. Founder Stan Shih emphasized that Acer's greatest contribution lies in nurturing talent for Taiwan, which he said has created intangible and long-lasting value.

Taiwan's 2026 exports set to top US$800 billion as AI fuels electronics surge

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:15:48 GMT

Taiwan's exports were forecast to surpass US$800 billion in 2026, driven by strong demand for electronic components and information and audiovisual products tied to artificial intelligence, according to China Credit Information Service. The projection followed a record first quarter when exports reached US$195.74 billion, marking the highest quarterly total on record and a 51.1% year-over-year increase.

ASE signs cybersecurity MOU with national institute to shore up semiconductor defenses

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:13:10 GMT

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and the National Institute of Cyber Security signed a memorandum of understanding on April 28 to establish a joint cyber defense, intelligence sharing, and cooperation framework aimed at countering complex global cyber threats. The agreement will integrate technical resources and real-time threat intelligence to strengthen industry-wide defenses for the semiconductor sector, with an emphasis on protecting smart manufacturing and core corporate assets in Kaohsiung.

Amkor records strong 1Q26, advanced packaging expected to triple YoY

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:01:50 GMT

Amkor Technology is off to a record start in 2026. First-quarter revenue hit US$1.68 billion, up 27% from the prior year, driven by record performance in AI data center applications and a fourth consecutive quarter of growth in automotive and industrial segments. Earnings per diluted share came in at US$0.33, beating analyst expectations on the back of a favorable product mix and disciplined cost management. The company's strategy is firmly anchored in high-value advanced packaging for AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC). CEO Kevin Engel noted that several High-Density Fan-Out (HDFO) programs are underway, with a new data center CPU device beginning its ramp this quarter.

Commentary: Honor retools for humanoid robotics, rewrites AI device playbook

Levi Li — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:01:05 GMT

Honor's surprise win at this year's Beijing humanoid robot half-marathon has stirred industry debate, not only for its on-track performance but for what the move signals about shifting competitive dynamics. The smartphone maker's cross-sector push into robotics has reignited questions over whether embodied AI and humanoid systems could trigger a new round of market reshuffling.

DeepSeek lifts capital by 50%, founder secures veto stake ahead of funding round

Levi Li — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:55:45 GMT

After upgrading its DeepSeek-V4 model, Hangzhou-based AI firm DeepSeek revealed a major ownership shift. Filings on the Chinese registry platform Qichacha show registered capital rising 50% from CNY10 million (approx. US$1.4 million) to CNY15 million.

Meta bets on orbit-to-grid solar to power AI infrastructure around the clock

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:52:29 GMT

Meta announced partnerships with Overview Energy and Noon Energy to develop space-based solar collection and ultra‑long‑duration energy storage, aiming to support its data centers and AI infrastructure. These projects could extend renewable generation and store clean power for days, with implications for grid reliability and how organizations use energy worldwide.

Microsoft's cloud strategy tightens AI compute supply

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:51:12 GMT

Across the AI sector, start-ups are struggling to secure the graphics processing units (GPUs) needed to train and run their models. Supplies of Nvidia chips are increasingly being diverted by cloud giants like Microsoft to their own internal teams and largest customers, leaving smaller firms competing for what remains — often at sharply higher prices.

Empyrean draws retail inflows while profit falls, testing China EDA valuations

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:44:56 GMT

China's domestic EDA software developer Empyrean Technology is attracting a growing base of retail investors even as its earnings weaken, underscoring a widening gap between market enthusiasm for semiconductor design tools and near-term profitability.

Macronix returns to profit in 1Q26, citing tighter supply and higher memory prices

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:42:40 GMT

Macronix's return to profitability in the first quarter of 2026 signals supply constraints and stronger memory pricing, with implications for global flash markets and customer supply chains. The Taiwan-based memory maker reported wider margins, robust NAND growth, and reduced inventories, suggesting that tighter industry supply and higher ASPs could significantly reshape pricing and sourcing worldwide.

Indian startup targets AI inference opportunity with full-stack compute platform

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:37:46 GMT

While global AI infrastructure investment remains concentrated around massive GPU clusters for training frontier models, Indian startup Turiyam.ai is betting on a different commercial reality: the dominance of inference.

LG reportedly plans to expand its India manufacturing footprint

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:59:54 GMT

New Daily reports that LG Electronics has decided to expand its manufacturing footprint in India, with a major investment of about KRW1.4 trillion (approximately US$1.0 billion) to upgrade its home appliance production facility in Greater Noida. The move comes as LG Group Chair Koo Kwang-mo participates in a presidential economic delegation visiting India and Vietnam, underscoring the strategic importance of the investment timing.

Wistron's InnoSky Apex merges with GEOSAT Aerospace to expand drone operations

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:51:15 GMT

Wistron Group announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, InnoSky Apex, will absorb and merge with GEOSAT Aerospace & Technology. Wistron invested in GEOSAT Aerospace in 2024, acquiring a 45% stake and securing four board seats.

Restocking, cost pass-through lift Eternal Materials to 1Q26 profit gains

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:50:57 GMT

Eternal Materials's stronger March and first-quarter 2026 results signal resilience across global supply chains of synthetic resins and electronic materials. Rising sales, steady margins, and effective cost pass-through have eased concerns about Middle East uncertainty and raw material availability, while shipment growth and niche product gains point to expanding momentum.

Agentic AI sparks CPU demand surge, boosting ASIC and niche chip makers

Charlene Chen — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:49:23 GMT

The rise of agentic AI has transformed computing chip requirements, igniting a fierce CPU supply scramble. Traditional x86 giants like Intel and AMD are seeing growing CPU demand in cloud AI, while application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) vendors stand to benefit significantly.

Chinese automakers use supply chain shifts to bypass US trade barriers

Kevin Wang — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:48:23 GMT

Faced with escalating trade barriers from the US, Chinese automakers are adopting a "buffer route" strategy by using Canada and Mexico as transit points to enter the US market, while also evolving their approach from simply exporting fully assembled vehicles to embedding themselves into complex global supply chains. By deepening their integration from pure manufacturing into technical standards, Chinese automakers are now venturing beyond market expansion, as they compete for leadership and dominance in both manufacturing and technology.

Celestica reports strong 1Q26 as cloud demand lifts results

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:40:50 GMT

Celestica reported a strong start to 2026, underscoring the growing demand for data center hardware as cloud spending accelerates.

US and China auto markets face diverging pressures

Elaine Chen — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:39:24 GMT

The world's two largest auto markets, the US and China, now resemble opposite ends of a scale, each confronting a distinct set of structural strains. In the US, policy uncertainty is forcing carmakers into repeated strategic recalibrations. In China, by contrast, overcapacity and relentless competition are squeezing margins. Together, these pressures are reshaping how capital is allocated and how market share is contested, testing both the financial resilience and strategic discipline of global automakers.

Analysis: Why Tokyo Electron's China problem goes deeper than a data breach

Emily Kuo — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:26:15 GMT

Amid growing geopolitical tensions over the global semiconductor supply chain, what initially appeared to be an internal personnel matter is evolving into a broader case study of the operational risks that foreign equipment vendors face in China.

Samsung fast-tracks Pyeongtaek fabs to turn HBM4 edge into AI memory scale

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:22:29 GMT

Samsung is accelerating one of its most aggressive memory capacity buildouts in years, aiming to bring its Pyeongtaek Line 4 fab, or P4, into full operation by the end of 2026 as the AI server boom reshapes demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and advanced DRAM.

Chinese GPU maker Lisuan secures Microsoft WHQL certification for 6nm chip

Levi Li — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:12:01 GMT

China-based GPU designer Lisuan Tech has secured Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certification from Microsoft, becoming the first Chinese company and the fourth globally to receive official GPU compatibility endorsement.

Nvidia says GPU allocation follows first-come, first-served principle, not highest bidder

Charlene Chen — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:02:58 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang clarified in an April 2026 interview with Silicon Valley podcast host Dwarkesh Patel that the company allocates GPUs based on a first-come, first-served principle rather than a highest bidder wins approach.

US chip packaging capacity to hit 10% by 2032

Charlene Chen — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:02:07 GMT

The Trump administration continues to push for reshoring the semiconductor industry to the US. As global foundry giants TSMC, Intel, and Samsung Electronics expand advanced manufacturing capacities stateside, strengthening local OSAT capabilities is seen as the "last mile" in building a domestic supply chain.

Intel prioritizes Xeon; CPU shortage opens door for AMD and MediaTek

Levi Li — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:37:34 GMT

Generative AI has driven a surge in GPU demand and accelerated a structural reshaping of the semiconductor industry. At the same time, CPUs are re-emerging after years of being sidelined, with demand rising sharply and pushing Intel into a rare supply shortage. Intel executives said demand is far exceeding supply, with capacity constraints costing billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Chinese EVs undercut global rivals by half, siren alarm in South Korea and beyond

Elaine Chen — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:06:10 GMT

China's auto industry is expanding at a striking pace, powered by electric vehicles and a surge in exports that is reshaping the global market order. Analysts in South Korea warn that China's rapid gains in price competitiveness and technological capability now pose an existential challenge to major automotive nations, including their own.

OpenAI eyes agentic AI phone but faces challenges beyond chip design

Jingyue Hsiao — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:03:18 GMT

OpenAI's agentic AI phone could reshape mobile markets and supply chains by forcing incumbents to respond. Still, success depends on delivering both interface breakthroughs and competitive cost-performance for mainstream buyers and attracting users.

Wuhan unveils US$38 billion plan; YMTC and XMC lead memory expansion

Levi Li — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:51:00 GMT

China's central tech hub Wuhan has unveiled its 2026 major project plan, targeting 355 city-level projects with total investment exceeding CNY260 billion (approx. US$38.1 billion).

New flagship launches expected to narrow Taiwan phone shipment decline in the second quarter

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:48:31 GMT

The Taiwan smartphone market showed resilience after the Lunar New Year peak as manufacturers introduced multiple new flagship models, and industry sources said the launches should help narrow a forecasted decline in the second quarter. Mobile channel operators reported that Taiwan's phone shipments reached nearly 418,000 units in March 2026, down about 1% from February's 420,000 units, while revenue rose nearly 1% as premium device sales increased.

Rising component costs push Chinese phone makers to speed product cycles and favor high-end models

DIGITIMES — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:36:44 GMT

Chinese smartphone manufacturers accelerated product cycles in response to rising upstream component costs and weak sales, as memory price increases in 2026 squeezed margins and prompted firms to shift focus to higher-margin models. According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, March 2026 shipments in China totaled 21.15 million units, down 7.1% year-over-year, while 5G phone shipments reached 19.67 million units, a 1.3% increase and 93% of total shipments.