DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Amazon's cloud acceleration lifts profitability as AI spending absorbs cash

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:14:07 GMT

Amazon's third quarter showed its cloud expansion translating into stronger operating profitability, while the cash demands of building AI infrastructure kept rising. The result sharpens the company's central operating challenge: sustaining rapid AWS growth while bringing new capacity into service and maintaining the economics of its much larger retail business.

Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance reportedly seek 10-year DRAM deals

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:12:49 GMT

Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance are reportedly seeking long-term server DRAM supply agreements with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, with some requests extending through 2035, as Chinese cloud service providers (CSPs) join US technology giants in competing for future memory capacity.

STMicroelectronics' recovery gains momentum, but power chips lag

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:12:00 GMT

STMicroelectronics is turning a demand recovery into stronger factory economics, with communications and embedded-processing products driving the improvement. Yet the widening loss in its power semiconductor business shows that higher sales have not restored portfolio-wide profitability, leaving manufacturing utilization and product mix central to the next stage of the recovery.

Intel slashes 18A costs by 40% as foundry posts US$1.9 billion loss

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:11:14 GMT

Intel is cutting manufacturing costs for its newest processors, but the gains are reaching individual products and its foundry business at different speeds. Its October 29 earnings call showed improving factory execution alongside unfinished work on product margins and external customer programs, making process progress an incomplete measure of the manufacturing turnaround.

Intel's AI PCs are selling, but the wider PC recovery is still missing

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:10:21 GMT

Intel's growing AI PC sales are coexisting with a shrinking PC market, as memory constraints weaken purchases and computer makers reduce processor inventories. The distinction matters for the company's manufacturing response: a better product mix can support Intel's position without restoring overall PC demand, while capacity released by weaker client sales takes time to become server supply.

Samsung, SK Hynix say memory crunch could drag on for years despite spending surge

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:09:34 GMT

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix expect memory shortages to persist for years despite rising investment in chip factories, as surging AI demand and increasingly complex manufacturing processes limit how quickly new capacity can come online.

Taiwan semiconductor output to hit NT$9.1 trillion as TSIA urges stable power

Lily Hess — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:07:35 GMT

The Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) expects its members' total output to exceed NT$9.1 trillion (US$279.5 billion) in 2026, a 40.9% year-over-year increase driven by growing AI semiconductor demand. TSIA chairman and TSMC deputy co-chief operating officer Cliff Hou also called for stable power supplies and support for reassessing nuclear plant restarts, provided that regulations and safety requirements are met.

Japan's Nidec reports update on restated financial reports, audit status, and corporate governance reform

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:06:53 GMT

Nidec Corporation has provided an update on its ongoing efforts to resolve the grounds for the disclaimer of opinion issued on its financial statements, missing its initial target to submit restated reports by October 28, 2026. Despite completing several remedial measures, the company continues to address additional verification procedures requested by its independent auditor.

Samsung secures Faraday 2nm ASIC order, broadening AI and HPC footprint

Yunnie Cheng — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:05:41 GMT

Samsung Electronics has secured a 2nm foundry order from Taiwan-based ASIC design house Faraday Technology. This win expands the application scope of Samsung's 2nm process from mobile devices to cloud AI and high-performance computing (HPC), and is expected to help broaden its advanced-process customer base and strengthen the competitiveness of its foundry business.

AUO returns to a third-quarter loss as panel demand weakens

DIGITIMES — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:05:22 GMT

AUO reported a consolidated net loss attributable to its parent-company owners in the third quarter of 2026 as cautious panel purchasing and weaker consumer electronics demand reduced revenue. The display maker posted revenue of NT$66.88 billion (US$2.06 billion) for the quarter, down 5.7% quarter-over-quarter and 4.3% year-over-year.

Memory price surge clouds peak season; Chinese brands' 4Q26 smartphone shipments to drop over 35%

Charlene Chen — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:05:03 GMT

Despite new smartphone launches from Apple, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi, rising memory prices are weakening sales momentum and prompting Chinese smartphone brands to adjust their product mix. DIGITIMES Intelligence senior analyst Luke Lin expects smartphone shipments in China to fall more than 13.5% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2026, and total shipments by Chinese brands to decline more than 35% year-over-year.

GlobalFoundries bets on FD-SOI for robots and cars

Sherri Wang — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:04:38 GMT

GlobalFoundries (GF) is betting on specialty semiconductor technologies to capture AI demand beyond advanced processors, targeting opportunities in data center connectivity, power management, automotive electronics and humanoid robots as artificial intelligence moves into physical applications.

Texas Instruments, NXP point to data centers and robots as industrial chips rebound

Lily Hess — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:26 GMT

Texas Instruments (TI) and NXP Semiconductors both reported 40% to 50% year-over-year growth in their industrial businesses during their latest earnings calls for the third quarter of 2026, citing AI data-center construction and robotics as key growth drivers. TI's industrial revenue reached its highest level in four years, while NXP's industrial and IoT business grew 39% year-over-year.

Intel CEO sees quantum computing as third pillar

Charlene Chen — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 00:00:08 GMT

Intel has agreed to acquire Israeli quantum software company Classiq, as CEO Lip-Bu Tan positions quantum computing as a "third pillar" alongside CPUs and GPUs. The deal, whose price has not been disclosed, is reportedly valued at about US$2.3 billion and is expected to close in the first half of 2027, according to Reuters.

BYD eyes ultra-luxury sedan priced above CNY2 million

Charlene Chen — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:58:47 GMT

BYD's premium Yangwang brand has named its ultra-luxury flagship sedan "Altior," with the model expected to sell for more than CNY2 million (US$300,027.8). Developed over approximately three years, the sedan is set to debut in the United Arab Emirates as Yangwang seeks to compete with Mercedes-Maybach, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley.

Silicon Motion posts fourth straight revenue record, eyes 100% 2026 growth

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:58:26 GMT

Silicon Motion Technology reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of about US$560 million, marking a record high for the fourth consecutive quarter. Revenue rose 24% quarter-over-quarter and surged 131% year-over-year, putting the company on track to achieve record full-year revenue in 2026, up more than 100% from 2025.

China AI stock bubble bursts as STAR 50 plunges 40%, erasing billions in market value

Yunnie Cheng — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:57:51 GMT

Chinese AI, robotics, and semiconductor stocks have suffered a steep sell-off in less than four months, casting a shadow over Beijing's push to achieve global technology leadership. According to Reuters, the Shanghai STAR 50 Index has fallen about 40% from its June peak, wiping out approximately US$480 billion in market value across AI and semiconductor components.

Taiflex, E Ink accelerate PTFE development for AI connectivity materials

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:57:26 GMT

Flexible copper-clad laminate (FCCL) maker Taiflex Scientific announced on October 28 that its board had approved a memorandum of understanding with global e-paper leader E Ink Holdings (EIH) to jointly develop AI high-speed connectivity materials. The partnership combines E Ink's expertise in base-material development and manufacturing with Taiflex's circuit-board material capabilities and industry experience to address demand for high-performance materials, mass-production capacity, and stable supply.

Elite Material posts record 3Q26 revenue on AI demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:57:04 GMT

Elite Material Co. (EMC), a copper-clad laminate (CCL) maker, reported record third-quarter 2026 revenue of NT$60.88 billion (US$1.875 billion), driven by strong demand for high-end materials used in AI products and fully loaded production capacity. Revenue rose 28.8% quarter-over-quarter and 142% year-over-year.

Analysis: Can Kazakhstan really be Europe's AI factory?

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:56:45 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's visit to Kazakhstan highlights a widening contest over AI computing capacity, as Europe seeks alternatives to infrastructure concentrated in the US and Asia. Kazakhstan, with 21 million people, is developing data centers and pursuing Nvidia partnerships that could position it as a supplier to Europe.

ASE Holdings raises 2026 capex to US$11.5 billion after profit surge

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

ASE Technology Holding reported net profit of NT$26.996 billion (US$831 million) for the third quarter of 2026, a 28% increase from the previous quarter and a 148% gain from a year earlier. The result marked the semiconductor packaging and electronics manufacturing services provider's highest profit in nearly 19 quarters. ASE also increased its 2026 capital expenditure budget by US$1 billion to US$11.5 billion and said spending is expected to rise again in 2027.

LandMark orders surpass 2026 revenue; capacity to expand sixfold

Lily Hess — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:59:00 GMT

AI is driving strong demand for silicon photonics, but LandMark Optoelectronics' planned sixfold capacity expansion over two years still falls short of customer requirements. The optical communications epitaxy supplier posted third-quarter 2026 net income of NT$621 million (US$19.1 million), up 33% quarter-over-quarter and 5.28 times year-over-year, while major customers have already placed orders covering more than six months.

Commentary: fire at Episil threatens tight epitaxial wafer supply

Yunnie Cheng — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

A fire broke out at the Innovation Plant of semiconductor epitaxial wafer maker Episil on October 28. The extent of equipment damage, the scope of production stoppages, and the recovery timeline remain under clarification. With certain products from Episil already experiencing tight supply, largely driven by wafer manufacturing customers lacking internal adjustable capacity, any damage to existing mass-production equipment risks widening the current supply gap.

UMT reports 71% revenue growth as LEO satellite demand drives expansion

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:29:00 GMT

UMT's revenue increased 71% year-over-year in the first three quarters of 2026 as global demand for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite deployments lifted sales of millimeter-wave communications products. The Taiwan-based company said it would begin advancing manufacturing expansion plans in Taiwan, the US, and Vietnam from the fourth quarter of 2026 to support international customer demand and strengthen delivery flexibility.

Qisda's commercial drones enter production as physical AI expands its growth strategy

Lily Hess — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:29:00 GMT

Qisda President Cally Ko said future infrastructure supporting autonomous physical AI would evolve beyond simply providing connectivity and power to also deliver sensing, computing, and autonomous dispatching capabilities. She also disclosed that the company's commercial drones had already secured orders and entered production, while its quadruped robots were expected to be unveiled publicly in early 2027.

ADATA posts record 2026 profit as AI demand intensifies memory supply pressure

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:28:00 GMT

ADATA Technology reported record results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2026, driven by strong demand for memory and storage products as global artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure expanded. Net income attributable to shareholders reached NT$12.61 billion (US$388.6 million) in the third quarter, up 616.4% year-over-year, while earnings per share (EPS) rose to NT$38.69. For the first nine months, EPS reached NT$101.47, and net income exceeded ADATA's combined profit over its previous 25 years.

TSMC buys AUO Taichung plant for NT$38.8B; Quanta deal scrapped

Charlene Chen — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:06:35 GMT

AUO has approved the sale of its Taichung Plant Phase II facilities and related infrastructure to TSMC for NT$38.8 billion (US$1.2 billion), excluding taxes, and has terminated a planned NT$19.7 billion sale of its Huaya facilities to Quanta after the two companies failed to agree on usage specifications and delivery schedules. AUO expects the Taichung transaction to generate approximately NT$18.5 billion in disposal gains after related transaction costs and estimated taxes.

Virgin Galactic moves new spacecraft, targets commercial flights in 2027

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:55:00 GMT

Virgin Galactic on October 28 moved its first Delta-class suborbital spacecraft, D1, from its assembly facility in Mesa, Arizona, to its operations base at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The transfer marks the next-generation fleet's shift from assembly to flight-test preparations, with commercial crewed flights targeted for early in the second quarter of 2027.

DeepSeek, Moonshot accused of distilling OpenAI's Astra

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:35:00 GMT

Chinese AI developers DeepSeek and Moonshot AI reportedly used outputs from OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra to train their latest models, raising questions about how US companies can protect their technological advantage as rivals seek to reproduce advanced AI capabilities at lower cost.

Analysis: Samsung's record quarter came from higher prices, not more chips; expects buyers to get no relief before 2028

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Samsung Electronics' third-quarter profit came almost entirely from charging more for memory chips, not from selling more of them. On its earnings call, the company also told investors the shortage behind those prices will last into 2028, even as chipmakers raise spending.

Delayed Taiwan drone tenders hit Coretronic unit as it partners with US firm Aevex

Kevin Wang — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:20:00 GMT

Coretronic Intelligent Robotics Corp. (CIRC), a subsidiary of Coretronic Group, is partnering with US drone maker Aevex Aerospace to pursue Taiwan government tenders and opportunities in overseas markets. According to CoreIntelligence Holdings (CiHC) president Frank Ho, the partnership combines CIRC's manufacturing and maintenance capabilities in Taiwan with Aevex's 3D-printing technology to improve production speed, flexibility, and cost competitiveness.

Server CPU shipments set to surge 46% in 2027, with AMD eyeing revenue crown

Yunnie Cheng — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Global server CPU shipments are projected to surpass the 50 million-unit milestone for the first time in 2027, reaching 52.6 million units as demand accelerates alongside the industry-wide shift from AI training to inference, according to DIGITIMES Intelligence. While Intel is expected to retain its shipment crown, rival AMD is closing in fast.

Marvell reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Lumentum in AI optics deal

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:45:00 GMT

Marvell Technology is in advanced talks to acquire data-center optical component maker Lumentum Holdings, people familiar with the matter said, in what could become a major AI hardware supply-chain deal. The transaction could be announced as early as next week.

Nvidia under probe by US justice officials over Hugging Face acquisition

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:26:11 GMT

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is reviewing how Nvidia's acquisition of Hugging Face could affect competition in the AI industry, while a years-long antitrust investigation continues into the company's broader practices. The probes target a chipmaker that has grown into the world's biggest company by market capitalization, with business interests spanning multiple parts of the AI value chain, and is a major backer of data center development.

LB Semicon to expand PMIC capacity under 10-year Qualcomm deal

DIGITIMES — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:25:27 GMT

South Korean semiconductor packaging and testing company LB Semicon reportedly plans to invest KRW30 billion (approx. US$22.4 million) to expand its power management IC (PMIC) back-end capacity under a 10-year supply agreement with Qualcomm.