DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Taiwan's Hsin-li Chemical to acquire up to 30% of golf equipment distributor Dacome in tender offer

Elaine Chen — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:34:41 GMT

Hsin-li Chemical, a subsidiary of Taiwan's Sun Yad Group, said it plans to launch an over-the-counter tender offer for shares of Dacome, a leading golf equipment distribution company, in a move aimed at expanding its diversified investment portfolio.

Profile: MIT physicist Yichen Shen leads photonics chipmaker to Hong Kong IPO

Levi Li — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:34:13 GMT

On the morning of April 28, 2026, 37-year-old Yichen Shen stood at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, striking the IPO gong with a wooden mallet.

Taiwanese makers chip in as LEO satellite launches reshape global supply chains

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:33:53 GMT

The rapid rise in low Earth orbit satellite launches is reshaping global supply chains, opening opportunities — and risks — for Taiwanese component makers in connectors, battery modules, and cables. Their early foothold could influence downstream costs, certification hurdles, and manufacturing footprints worldwide, affecting satellite program timelines, sourcing strategies, and investment decisions.

Samsung restructures home appliance business after 90% profit erosion

Charlene Chen — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:33:05 GMT

Samsung Electronics is reportedly initiating a large-scale restructuring of its home appliance division aimed at reversing declining profitability by increasing outsourced production and streamlining operations. According to South Korean media outlets including Maeil Business Newspaper and Hangyung, Samsung held a high-level meeting in early April 2026 to establish plans for bolstering competitiveness in the home appliance sector.

Silicon Motion posts record 1Q26 revenue driven by AI, new products to boost growth

Lily Hess — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:30:46 GMT

Silicon Motion Technology reported a record quarterly revenue of US$342 million in the first quarter of 2026, up 23% from the previous quarter and soaring 105% year-over-year. The company posted a gross margin of 47.2%, net income after tax of US$53.9 million, and diluted earnings per American depository share (ADS) of US$1.58. CEO Wallace Kou said that ongoing ramp-ups of new projects and market share gains will drive quarterly revenue growth throughout 2026.

CSP capex push toward US$700B as AI race intensifies, but ASIC demand timing remains uncertain

DIGITIMES — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:30:16 GMT

At their latest earnings calls, all four major US cloud service providers (CSPs) offered updated views on their 2026 capital expenditure (capex) plans. While Amazon's AWS maintained its already elevated capex levels, the other three — Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta — each raised their spending outlooks.

Taiwan supplier JPC takes No. 2 spot in Nvidia Vera Rubin power cable certification

Eifeh Strom — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:29:50 GMT

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to drive power demands, investment in power-related sectors has become a key focus for component suppliers. Connector and cable supplier JPC Connectivity announced a major breakthrough in its power cable business during its earnings call on April 28, confirming that its ORV3 series of products have completed validation by major cloud service providers (CSP) and Taiwanese ODMs, and have entered the mass production and shipment phases.

Lite-On's AI power ramp lifts 2Q26, but cautious PC outlook tempers 2H26 visibility

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:29:25 GMT

Lite-on Technology is forecasting essential second-quarter revenue growth as next-generation AI power management products enter mass production, president Anson Chiu said, while warning that PC demand momentum may moderate in the second half of the year.

Smart Eye expands AI in-cockpit sensing from driver monitoring to full cabin perception

Jingyue Hsiao — Sun, 3 May 2026 02:29:06 GMT

Smart Eye's new contracts to add advanced in-cabin sensing to existing models signal a shift with global implications: automakers face looming EU and Euro NCAP rules that push cabin AI beyond driver monitoring toward full multi-passenger perception, affecting safety compliance, software strategies, and privacy for vehicle owners worldwide and regulators.

Taiwan quartz makers target LEO satellite boom by 2027

Charlene Chen — Sun, 3 May 2026 01:46:52 GMT

As wireless communication applications surge, demand for quartz components and filters is rising in tandem, with manufacturers actively expanding into the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite sector. An industry insider says ground receiving stations currently drive the strongest demand for filters and quartz parts, forecasting a market explosion by 2027 as satellite communication users grow.

MediaTek taps retiring TSMC packaging veteran to strengthen foundry ties, not to bridge to Intel

Joseph(C) Chen — Sat, 2 May 2026 11:43:41 GMT

Chen-Hua Douglas Yu, one of the six R&D leaders known inside TSMC as the "six knights," and a central figure in the foundry's advanced packaging development, has joined MediaTek following his 2025 retirement from TSMC. MediaTek confirmed the move, saying it is "honored to have Mr. Yu serve as an informal adviser."

OpenAI reworks Stargate data center strategy as site plans change

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:43:22 GMT

OpenAI is reworking its US$500 billion Stargate initiative, shifting from a fixed data center joint venture toward a more flexible strategy for securing computing capacity as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure accelerates.

NSTC forms task force to lead Taiwan's multimodal AI foundation model development

Rodney Chan — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:42:53 GMT

Amid the flourishing commercial generative AI landscape dominated by large-parameter language models, Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has reversed earlier doubts about its Trustworthy AI Dialogue Engine (TAIDE) project. NSTC minister Cheng-Wen Wu has instructed the formation of a TAIDE task force led by Mark Liao, director of Academia Sinica's Institute of Information Science, to develop a multimodal foundational AI model supporting diverse industries across Taiwan.

After buying Ansys, Synopsys starts merging the two stacks

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:41:25 GMT

Hardware design is entering a system-level reset, with Synopsys moving simulation to the core of product development. With Ansys 2026 R1, simulation and analysis (S&A) shifts from post-design verification to a front-end decision engine, shaping architecture from system to silicon.

Yageo AI revenue reaches 15% as chair says sector remains early in cycle

Sherri Wang — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:41:09 GMT

Yageo chairman Pierre Chen said the company has undergone a major transformation over the past eight years, driven in part by the rise of AI applications.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics tops US$2 billion quarterly sales, flags ABF substrate shortage

Levi Li — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:40:50 GMT

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) reported its first-ever quarterly revenue exceeding KRW3 trillion (approx. US$2.2 billion), driven by expanding AI infrastructure investment and rising demand for automotive electronics, marking a new scale milestone for the company.

Qualcomm says Samsung chip share remains above 70% despite Exynos push

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:38:16 GMT

Qualcomm said its relationship with Samsung Electronics remains stable and that its share of Samsung smartphone silicon has risen to more than 70%, even as Samsung expands the use of its in-house Exynos application processors in selected premium models.

Lite-On profit rises on surge in AI-driven cloud demand

Elaine Chen — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:37:55 GMT

Lite-On Technology reported first-quarter revenue of NT$43.4 billion (approx. US$1.35 billion), up 19% from a year earlier, as surging demand for AI infrastructure fueled rapid growth in its cloud-related business.

Foxconn Industrial Internet posts 102% net profit growth in 1Q26 on AI GPU, ASIC demand

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:37:44 GMT

Benefiting from the continued expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) computing power demand, Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII), a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn), reported first-quarter 2026 revenue that far exceeded market expectations. Revenue reached CNY251.08 billion (approx. US$36.74 billion), up 56.52% year over year, while net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company reached CNY10.60 billion, soaring 102.55%, with profit growth significantly outpacing revenue.

Onsemi expands collaboration with NIO to support 900V EV platforms

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:37:34 GMT

Onsemi's expanded collaboration with NIO to support the automaker's move to 900V electric vehicle platforms could accelerate global EV adoption by improving range, charging speed, and drivetrain efficiency, influencing vehicle performance and manufacturing scalability for new models introduced worldwide, including those scheduled to debut at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show.

MediaTek lifts 2026 ASIC target to $2 billion despite smartphone market deterioration

Eifeh Strom — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:37:21 GMT

MediaTek held its earnings call on April 30, expressing a cautious outlook for the 2026 smartphone market. Despite this, growth in other applications is expected to effectively offset the decline.

Goertek boosts Vietnam camera output with US$20 million Bac Ninh expansion

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:35:23 GMT

China-based electronics manufacturer Goertek is deepening its manufacturing push in Vietnam, committing an additional US$20 million to expand its Bac Ninh operations, reinforcing the country's role as a key production base for global consumer electronics supply chains.

China's memory makers post blockbuster gains as AI tightens supply and resets prices

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 23:35:10 GMT

China's memory sector is showing clear signs of recovery, with leading players including Shenzhen Longsys Electronics and Montage Technology reporting strong first-quarter gains, underpinned by a structural demand shift driven by artificial intelligence.

TeraFab is already changing the semiconductor landscape — before a single chip is made

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 08:59:29 GMT

Elon Musk has a habit of building what he cannot buy.

AI chip boom sends Korea exports to record highs, supply crunch deepens

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 07:53:16 GMT

South Korea's export surge is entering a new phase, with artificial intelligence-driven semiconductor demand powering record shipments even as geopolitical risks and cost pressures mount.

OpenAI demand doubts cast shadow over AI server supply chain

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 06:53:41 GMT

OpenAI's aggressive push to secure AI computing capacity is facing growing scrutiny, with signs that its multibillion-dollar data center procurement plans may be reassessed, reportedly raising questions for a supply chain led by Quanta Computer, Wistron and Foxconn.

China's $1M Nvidia AI servers expose global chip squeeze

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 05:30:08 GMT

Prices for high-end AI servers in China are diverging sharply from global benchmarks, with systems built around Nvidia's B300 chips now fetching scarcity-driven premiums that reflect tightening export controls and surging domestic demand.

Advantest beats on AI chip testing, cautious outlook dents shares

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 03:45:28 GMT

Japan's Advantest closed its fiscal year with strong results, highlighting how AI-driven chip demand is reshaping semiconductor testing economics, even as a cautious outlook weighed on sentiment.

China unveils CPU-only exascale supercomputer plan, targets 2 ExaFLOPS without GPUs

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 03:02:33 GMT

China's National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen has launched the LineShine supercomputer project, aiming to break into the exascale tier with a CPU-only architecture that excludes both GPU accelerators and foreign components, challenging the current global trajectory of supercomputing design.

Mitsubishi Electric proposes three-way power chip JV with Rohm, Toshiba

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 03:02:17 GMT

Mitsubishi Electric president Kei Uruma said the company aims to establish a joint venture with Rohm and Toshiba to integrate their power semiconductor businesses, signaling continued progress in three-way consolidation talks.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics weighs MLCC price hike of 5–10% as supply tightens

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 03:02:04 GMT

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is considering raising prices for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) by about 5% to 10% as demand from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure tightens supply, according to Korean media reports and industry sources.

Column: Designing safety for VLA robots in commercial deployment

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 1 May 2026 03:01:17 GMT

The deployment density of service and mobile robots in commercial environments has surged over the past three years. What began as narrowly defined automation—inspection units in factories or delivery bots in controlled settings—has expanded into restaurants, retail stores, hospitals, warehouses, and even outdoor logistics. Yet despite this rapid proliferation, most of these machines still operate on rigid rules and pre-programmed workflows, closer to moving appliances than adaptive systems.

Hardware bottlenecks emerge as humanoid robotics race intensifies

Jingyue Hsiao — Fri, 1 May 2026 03:01:01 GMT

Competition in humanoid robotics has intensified in recent years, with advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning often cited as the main drivers of progress. However, attention is increasingly turning to hardware limitations—particularly actuators used in robotic hands and arms—which some industry participants argue remain the key barrier to achieving human-level dexterity and commercial viability.

Macronix eyes steady growth from 1Q26 amid eMMC supply gap

Lily Hess — Fri, 1 May 2026 03:00:47 GMT

Memory maker Macronix (MXIC) is emerging from an operational slump in the first quarter of 2026, driven by explosive revenue growth in embedded multi-media cards (eMMCs) as major global players exit the multi-level cell (MLC) NAND segment. The company reported a quarterly increase of 94% and an annual surge of 3,993% in eMMC sales.

Samsung strike threat highlights rising labor risk to AI chip supply chain and corporate pay models

DIGITIMES — Fri, 1 May 2026 03:00:28 GMT

Samsung Electronics is facing its largest labor escalation in years after unions representing tens of thousands of workers voted to authorize strike action. The dispute centers on compensation structures, particularly performance-based bonuses linked to semiconductor profits, which workers argue have become increasingly opaque and insufficient relative to the company's record earnings in the AI-driven chip cycle.