DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

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.

Adata, Team Group post record March sales, expect 40% contract price hike in 2Q26

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 09:29:43 GMT

Memory module giants Adata Technology and Team Group both reported record-high revenue for March 2026. Adata's monthly revenue surpassed NT$10.54 billion (approx. US$330.19 million), a rise of 47.09% from February and 181.48% year over year. Meanwhile, Team Group reported NT$4.92 billion in March revenue, surging 326.68% sequentially and 120.49% from a year earlier, setting new records for both monthly and first-quarter sales.

China intervenes in memory supply; Apple outpaces local smartphone vendors

Levi Li — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 09:29:34 GMT

Memory shortages are pushing prices sharply higher, forcing a reshuffle across the consumer electronics market. Chinese authorities have intervened for a second time, convening domestic memory leaders CXMT and YMTC to provide "strategic support" aimed at stabilizing prices and containing supply chain costs for local brands. Yet with a wide supply-demand gap in DRAM and NAND flash, near-term price stabilization remains unlikely.

Chinese energy storage players flock to growing AI data center market in face of fierce domestic competition

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 08:43:58 GMT

Chinese energy storage players are going all in on the AI data center market, as intense domestic competition has caused falling profit margins from traditional storage projects. The booming token economy is changing the role of AI data center energy storage from simply backup power to a core element of computing power.

Europe's battery ambitions shrink as costs and China's dominance loom

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 08:20:38 GMT

Driven by the rapid shift toward automotive electronics and electrification, Europe moved earlier than the United States to localize lithium battery production. Yet the region's ambitions have been sharply scaled back. Plans unveiled in 2023 projected battery manufacturing capacity of roughly 2,000 gigawatt-hours by 2030, but current estimates have been revised down to about 1,200 gigawatt-hours, effectively cutting the original blueprint nearly in half.

Memory rally lifts Adata to record quarter, AI demand fuels outlook

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 08:04:22 GMT

Adata reported record monthly revenue in March, surpassing NT$10 billion (US$315 million) for the first time and lifting first-quarter revenue to NT$26.11 billion, up 1.6 times year-over-year and marking a new quarterly high.

Taiwan's Zhen Ding projects AI-driven surge as next-gen platforms hit production

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 07:49:19 GMT

Looking ahead, Taiwan's printed circuit board giant Zhen Ding Technology expects a strong growth trajectory beginning in the second quarter, as clients ramp up production on next-generation platforms. The company projects that momentum in its server and optical communications businesses will expand quarter by quarter, while its IC substrate segment is set to benefit from robust AI computing demand, driving sequential growth. Zhen Ding anticipates entering a new phase of accelerated expansion in 2026.

AI server cooling demand boosts heat sink makers' growth outlook

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 07:44:05 GMT

Heat sink manufacturers continue to benefit from the surge in AI-driven server growth, with Asia Vital Components (AVC), Auras, and Jentech all posting record-high revenues in March 2026. Liquid cooling solutions are the main driver behind this momentum. Industry players note that liquid cooling units command average prices several times higher than air-cooling modules. As 2026 is set to be the inaugural year for widespread liquid cooling adoption, its share will keep rising, ensuring strong growth momentum throughout 2026.

Compal launches Sylux in US to expand automotive infrared safety solutions

Kevin Wang — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 06:42:50 GMT

Compal Electronics has officially registered its Sylux brand in the US, marking a key milestone in accelerating its automotive business, as the company aims to grow non-PC revenue to 40% in 2026, with automotive components forming a major focus in this strategic shift.

Anthropic launches Project Glasswing to fend cyber threats with new Mythos model

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Anthropic has launched a new cybersecurity initiative, Project Glasswing, giving select technology partners early access to a powerful yet-to-be-released AI model as concerns grow over AI-driven cyberattacks. According to Bloomberg, the program is designed to help companies prepare for potential risks before the model is made more widely available.

SK Hynix reportedly in talks with Microsoft and Google on long-term AI memory deals

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 05:04:30 GMT

After Samsung Electronics moved to secure long-term memory supply agreements with major technology companies, rival SK Hynix is now pursuing similar deals with leading artificial intelligence firms, including Microsoft and Google.

US-China tech clash over chips intensifies ahead of summit, with global supply-chain implications

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 05:02:58 GMT

As US and Chinese leaders prepared for a mid-May summit, proposed US export controls on semiconductor equipment under the MATCH Act and China's sharp state-media rebuttal signaled heightened tech tensions with far-reaching global supply-chain implications. Analysts have characterized the moves as pre-summit leverage that could reshape chip manufacturing and trade flows.

China's AI and cloud firms step up use of domestic chips

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 05:01:10 GMT

China's leading AI and cloud companies are shifting toward domestically produced AI chips, a move with global implications for supply chains, technology competition, and cloud services. The trend could reduce demand for foreign semiconductors while accelerating China's practical deployment of AI on homegrown platforms, affecting international vendors and developers alike.

Innolux's CarUX debuts next-gen smart cockpit at Touch Taiwan 2026 after Pioneer merger

Willis Ke — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:58:17 GMT

Innolux subsidiary CarUX completed its merger with Pioneer on December 1, 2025, combining their visual and acoustic expertise to accelerate next-generation in-car innovation. The combined entity has unveiled a deeply integrated smart cockpit simulation system at Touch Taiwan 2026 (April 8-10, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center), positioning it as a blueprint for future in-car user experiences.

Taiwan warns of Beijing's covert push to poach AI and chip talent

Elaine Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:50:35 GMT

According to the latest report submitted by Taiwan's National Security Bureau to the Legislative Yuan, China is increasingly targeting Taiwan in an effort to circumvent international technological restrictions. Beijing has set its sights on Taiwan's high-tech sectors—particularly artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and precision machinery—seeking to lure companies to establish operations or maintain a presence in China under the framework of its 15th Five-Year Plan.

Chinese SSD maker DapuStor sees rising QLC demand as AI drives storage growth

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:41:08 GMT

Chinese enterprise SSD (eSSD) maker DapuStor entered its IPO subscription phase in early April 2026, driven by rapid expansion in AI infrastructure. The company recently observed multiple downstream customers significantly revising their order forecasts upwards after the Lunar New Year holidays. DapuStor highlighted that QLC SSDs are becoming a key trend for North American and Chinese cloud service providers (CSPs) to ease cost and capacity pressures. Its 245TB product has officially reached customer sampling stages.

Uber deploys AWS custom chips to scale AI and cut compute costs

Levi Li — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:27:58 GMT

US ride-hailing platform Uber has announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deploy its in-house custom chips, aiming to improve the speed and efficiency of artificial intelligence (AI) model training and inference. The move is expected to strengthen Uber's real-time computing capabilities across ride-hailing and delivery services, while highlighting a broader push by cloud providers to capture AI infrastructure demand through proprietary silicon.

Analysis: China's humanoid robot market forms three-player structure at scaling inflection point

Levi Li — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:23:46 GMT

China's AgiBot Innovation (Shanghai) Technology has shipped its 10,000th humanoid robot, the Agibot Expedition A3, signalling early mass production at scale. Output doubled from 5,000 units at the end of 2025 within three months. While Tesla's Optimus timeline remains under scrutiny, China's humanoid robot push is already scaling, led by AgiBot, Unitree Robotics, and Ubtech Robotics in an emerging three-player structure.

Singapore's first robotaxi enters public service, signaling a new phase for autonomous mobility

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:09:48 GMT

Ai.R, a robotaxi service jointly launched by Chinese autonomous driving firm WeRide and Southeast Asian super-app Grab, has began public operations in Punggol, Singapore. The launch offers global observers an example of urban autonomous mobility scaling from trials to community service, with implications for regulation, workforce transition, and regional deployment strategies.

AI server boom lifts Taiwan's ACES Electronics into the high-speed interconnect race

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:09:37 GMT

As AI servers grow more complex and bandwidth demands surge, components once considered peripheral—connectors and high-speed cables—are emerging as critical determinants of system performance.

Apple leverages supply chain advantage to boost market share despite AI lag

Charlene Chen — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 04:08:48 GMT

As the industry enters the second quarter of 2026, Apple plans to significantly shift its shipment schedule for iPhones and other consumer electronics, with a base iPhone model possibly debuting early in the quarter. Despite varying views on Apple's AI progress, the company's core strategy for 2026 remains consistent with 2025: aggressively pursuing market share by attracting new users through strong price-performance ratios across smartphones and PCs.

Kioxia considers first dividend as long-term contracts shape global memory strategy

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:59:25 GMT

Kioxia Holdings, Japan's NAND flash memory producer, is exploring the possibility of paying its first dividend since listing in December 2024, reflecting confidence in its growing earnings amid rising memory prices, Nikkei reported. VP Yoshihiko Kawamura told Nikkei that the company is leaning toward a stable dividend rather than share buybacks, though the timing remains undecided. Kioxia plans to present its medium- to long-term capital allocation strategy — including growth investments and shareholder returns — at an investor briefing scheduled for June.

Hygon revenue jumps 68% on AI compute demand, expands CPU–GPGPU platform

DIGITIMES — Wed, 8 Apr 2026 03:58:51 GMT

China's domestic compute chipmaker Hygon Information Technology reported strong earnings growth, underscoring its rising role in China's AI and data center infrastructure buildout.