DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Shenzhen launches China's first full-stack domestic 14,000P AI cluster

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:30:00 GMT

Shenzhen has brought online what project materials describe as China's first 14,000P, 10,000-card AI computing cluster built around a fully domestic technology stack, marking a new stage in the country's push to reduce reliance on foreign hardware and software in large-scale model training.

SK Hynix dismisses peak fears, points to structural memory upcycle

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:15:00 GMT

SK Hynix said the current strength in memory pricing reflects structural changes in demand, pushing back against concerns that recent spot price weakness signals a market peak.

SK Hynix flags persistent HBM shortage as demand outpaces supply

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

SK Hynix said demand for high-bandwidth memory is expected to outpace supply for several years, underscoring persistent constraints in the AI memory market even as the company ramps up investment.

Parade offsets weak PC demand with TTED, high-speed, and automotive growth

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:45:00 GMT

Parade Technologies' first-quarter 2026 results and revised outlook carry broader supply-chain and demand implications for global PC and electronics markets. Memory shortages and price hikes are depressing PC shipments, while the company pivots into automotive, data-center, and other non-PC segments to offset anticipated declines through the rest of 2026 and beyond.

Tesla tap Intel's advanced 14A chip for Terafab project

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:30:51 GMT

Tesla plans to use advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology from Intel in its ambitious Terafab project, a development that could mark a significant milestone in Intel's efforts to re-establish itself as a leading global chip foundry.

LandMark sees profit soar 650% in 1Q26, secures deal for 5-year InP substrate supply

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:30:00 GMT

Driven by strong artificial intelligence (AI) and silicon photonics (SiPh) demand, optical communications epitaxy manufacturer LandMark Optoelectronics reported a more than sixfold increase in net profit in the first quarter of 2026, with earnings per share (EPS) reaching NT$3.44 (approx. US$0.11). The company's board also approved a five-year supply agreement with Japan's Sumitomo Electric Industries for indium phosphide (InP) substrates to ensure stable access to this critical raw material.

IBM's watsonx, mainframe surge, and sovereign AI push power a landmark 1Q26

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:15:00 GMT

IBM opened fiscal year 2026 on a high note. The company reported strong first-quarter results, driven by software momentum, a record mainframe surge, and its best first-quarter free cash flow in a decade.

Supermicro GPU smuggling prompts Nvidia to intensify supply chain audit

Charlene Chen — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Following the recent smuggling indictment involving Supermicro co-founder Wally Liaw and others, Nvidia has significantly upgraded its global supply chain monitoring practices in recent months, according to an industry source. Already maintaining high visibility over customer lists, Nvidia now enforces stricter controls on shipments and transshipment processes, prompting multiple suppliers to expand their legal teams to comply with the intensified audits.

Rockwell Automation highlights talent and ecosystem challenges for overseas plant constructions

Rodney Chan — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:51:56 GMT

Taiwanese manufacturers have increasingly expanded globally in recent years, especially under the Taiwan-US tariff agreements that have cemented US investments. This shift in manufacturing geography is set to pose new operational challenges for Taiwanese firms.

Tesla's US$25 billion investment push signals shift to AI and automation

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:45:00 GMT

Tesla reported steady first-quarter results while outlining an aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence, robotics, and energy — a strategy that executives say will define the company's next phase, even as it weighs on near-term financial performance.

Rockwell Automation flags key AI challenges, unveils three-step strategy for Taiwan's shift to autonomous manufacturing

Willis Ke — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:36:03 GMT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly moving beyond pilot projects to large-scale deployment in manufacturing, but many Taiwanese firms remain constrained by data, infrastructure, and investment gaps—challenges that could determine their competitiveness in the next industrial era.

Samsung and SK Hynix race to upgrade China chip plants as NAND demand surges

Elaine Chen — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:21:28 GMT

As the artificial intelligence boom reshapes global computing demand, the memory chip industry is entering a new phase of strain and restructuring — one in which both DRAM and NAND flash are seeing rapidly tightening supply.

TSMC to open Arizona packaging facility by 2029, signals caution on high-NA EUV

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:19:15 GMT

TSMC is accelerating its advanced packaging expansion in the US while maintaining a conservative stance on next-generation lithography, as the company balances cost pressures, AI-driven demand, and long-term manufacturing diversification. Analysts say the dual strategy highlights how advanced packaging and tool selection are becoming just as strategically important as leading-edge wafer production in shaping the global semiconductor supply chain.

IBM reports steady AI-driven growth despite facing software momentum questions

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:07:31 GMT

Analysts said IBM continues to show stable underlying revenue growth supported by artificial intelligence adoption and hybrid cloud demand. Its unchanged full-year outlook and softer software performance, however, may limit near-term upside expectations.

What Apple's new CEO inherits: AI, China, and a governance reckoning

Levi Li — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:03:52 GMT

Apple Inc. announced that John Ternus, Vice President of Hardware Engineering, will succeed Tim Cook as CEO in September, following Cook's 15-year tenure. The transition marks a pivotal moment as Apple navigates converging pressures from AI transformation and global operations, presenting a leadership test that spans technology, governance, and geopolitics.

Japan's LSTC launches optoelectronic advanced packaging project around Rapidus cluster

Emily Kuo — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Research on optoelectronic integration — referring to the application of optical communication technology to computing — is gaining momentum. Its semiconductor packaging component officially got underway in April 2026 in Chitose City, Hokkaido, Japan, where Rapidus's semiconductor factory is located. The project is led by the Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC), with participation from Rapidus and other organizations, and has established a development base at the Chitose Institute of Science and Technology. By using light to connect individual chips within chiplets, the technology aims to significantly reduce the power consumption of AI chips.

Lam Research signals sustained AI-driven momentum as WFE outlook improves

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:46:33 GMT

Lam Research delivered a strong start to 2026, with first-quarter 2026 results exceeding expectations and reinforcing confidence in a semiconductor upcycle increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence demand. Revenue reached US$5.84 billion, up 24% year over year, while margins and earnings also came in above guidance.

AIDC transitions into full-scale drone systems provider, advancing autonomy with in-house R&D

Willis Ke — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:45:00 GMT

Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) is fast-tracking its transition from a supporting aerospace contractor into a full-fledged drone system provider, aiming to capture growing opportunities in both domestic defense programs and the global unmanned vehicle market.

Texas Instruments signals a stronger recovery on industrial and AI demand

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:42:19 GMT

Texas Instruments (TI) reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of US$4.83 billion, up 19% year on year, with net income rising 31% to US$1.55 billion and earnings per share of US$1.68. Operating profit increased 37% to US$1.81 billion.

Texas Instruments signals broad recovery across industrial and data center markets with cautious optimism

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:36:54 GMT

Texas Instruments reported that improving demand in industrial and data center markets is driving sustained sequential growth, while management maintained a cautious stance on macroeconomic uncertainty and the durability of the current cycle.

UN cyber mandates force global auto rethink

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:30:00 GMT

New UN rules requiring EU cars to adopt comprehensive cybersecurity systems from mid-2024 will reshape global automotive competitiveness, supply chains, and digital strategies. The regulations compel automakers and suppliers worldwide to overhaul vehicle design, manufacturing, and software update practices — or risk stranded investments in electrification and software-defined vehicle programs, with consequences that could threaten corporate survival.

DRAM and NAND recovery drive Lam Research outlook, AI demand strengthens equipment cycle

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:23:26 GMT

Analysts say Lam Research is entering a stronger-than-expected growth phase, with rising demand from DRAM and NAND customers emerging as key drivers of revenue expansion alongside sustained AI-related investments. While overall semiconductor equipment demand remains cyclical, analysts note that memory-related capex recovery, combined with AI processor tool demand, is helping extend Lam Research's growth momentum into the next fiscal period.

Beyond infotainment: Google moves deeper into automotive with core vehicle systems

Elaine Chen — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:15:00 GMT

Silicon Valley is quietly reshaping the automotive value chain, and the shift is now working its way deep into the architecture of European carmakers.

Apollo Power secures backing from SEEC, Phison, and Gigabyte for AI data center power solutions

Kevin Wang — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Apollo Power is targeting the behind-the-meter energy storage market in Taiwan through a partnership with Tesla to deploy the latter's Megapack enterprise-level energy storage systems (ESS), coupled with Apollo Power's proprietary software technology and power dispatch platform. Beyond its first corporate project at Phison Electronics, Apollo Power has received strong backing from major shareholders including Shihlin Electric (SEEC), Phison, and Gigabyte, and is positioning itself to become a leading energy solution provider for AI computing centers.

Google debuts TPU 8t and 8i as AI workloads diverge

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:12:02 GMT

Google Cloud Next 2026 kicked off on April 22 in Las Vegas, with Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian declaring that the experimental phase of artificial intelligence is over. Nearly 75% of Google Cloud customers are already using AI in production environments, he said, adding that the key challenge now is scaling AI deployment across entire enterprises.

TSMC targets 2029 production for A13 and A12 as next AI chip nodes

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:11:11 GMT

At its North America Technology Symposium, TSMC showcased a range of innovations in advanced process technologies. Following the introduction of its A14 process in 2025, the company unveiled the next-generation A13 process, delivering a direct upgrade with a more streamlined, efficient design to meet the growing demand from next-generation AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and mobile applications.

Interview: Seiko Epson outlines engineered future vision for 2035 amid geopolitical challenges

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:05:55 GMT

Amid volatile geopolitical tensions affecting Japan's components, manufacturing, and end-user sectors, Seiko Epson unveiled its Engineered Future 2035 long-term vision. The plan aims to shift Epson from a traditional printer maker into a value-driven company focused on technology innovation and engineering excellence, with improving return on invested capital as a core discipline.

Asia Vital Components eyes liquid cooling growth while testing space-ready thermal plates

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:05:34 GMT

Asia Vital Components' push into liquid cooling and space-ready thermal solutions signals a broader shift in data center design and supply chains, with implications for hyperscalers and edge industries worldwide as AI-driven demand accelerates investment and capacity expansion across markets.

Zhen Ding will build 10 new factories for global expansion

Emily Kuo — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:05:14 GMT

Taiwan-based PCB maker Zhen Ding Tech has stated that as customers' next-generation product platforms gradually enter mass production starting from the second quarter of 2026, its IC substrate, server, and optical communications businesses are entering a new round of high-speed expansion. The company targets mid-to-high double-digit revenue growth for the full year of 2026 and is optimistic that shipment momentum will follow a quarter-on-quarter growth trend.

Taiwan's three major polarizer makers undergo transformation in medical, semiconductor, and automotive businesses

Emily Kuo — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:05:04 GMT

Growing pressure from capacity expansion in China, price competition, and compressed profit margins for traditional display applications has prompted Taiwan-based polarizer manufacturers to accelerate their transformation. Companies including BenQ Materials, Cheng Mei Materials Technology (CMMT), and Optimax Technology are diversifying their roles across medical, semiconductor materials, and automotive applications. Their objective is to mitigate industry risk and obtain a second growth curve.

Pegatron chairman: Apple's leadership shift won't shake supply chain ties

Elaine Chen — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:04:47 GMT

Apple has formally announced a leadership transition, naming its senior vice president of hardware engineering, John Ternus, as its next CEO. He is set to take over on September 1, 2026, succeeding Tim Cook, whose tenure has been widely credited with sustaining Apple's position at the pinnacle of the global technology industry.

Zhen Ding breaks ground on new China site; Zhongji Innolight chairman attends to show support

Lily Hess — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:04:34 GMT

Taiwanese printed circuit board (PCB) giant Zhen Ding Technology Group held a groundbreaking ceremony for the HD Campus of the "Zhen Ding Technology Group Huai'an Tech City" in Huai'an, China, on April 22. The new park plans to build facilities for high-density interconnect (HDI), modified semi-additive process (mSAP), and high-layer count (HLC) PCBs. Upon completion, the group's total number of factories across four major local parks will reach 23, further strengthening its manufacturing scale in the advanced PCB sector.

EV outlook revised downward as automakers pull back

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:04:22 GMT

Global forecasts of electric vehicle (EV) adoption have been lowered as automakers scale back near-term production and investment plans amid weaker-than-expected demand and mounting financial pressures. According to a recent Counterpoint Research report, EVs are now expected to account for around 50% of global vehicle sales by 2035, down from a previous estimate of 65%.

SpaceX loads up on debt to fund AI push before IPO

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:04:11 GMT

SpaceX is preparing for what could become one of the most ambitious public offerings in history, even as its balance sheet reflects the rising cost of its expanding ambitions in both space and artificial intelligence.

Japan PC shipments peak on upgrade cycle, correction ahead

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:04:00 GMT

Japan's PC market delivered a standout performance in the fiscal year ending March 2026, but underlying demand signals point to a sharp reversal as upgrade-driven momentum fades.

SK Hynix builds HBM packaging hub in Cheongju to expand AI memory capacity

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:03:44 GMT

SK Hynix has broken ground on a large-scale advanced packaging facility in Cheongju Technopolis, underscoring how the battleground for AI semiconductors is shifting beyond wafer fabrication to the back-end processes that increasingly define performance.

IndieSemiC partners with Nordic on wireless modules as India expands design-led semiconductor push

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:03:27 GMT

IndieSemiC, an Indian semiconductor and chip design company, has partnered with Nordic Semiconductor to design and commercialize wireless modules for connected devices, as Indian firms seek to capture more value in the semiconductor chain through design, RF integration, certification, and module-level manufacturing.

SK Hynix hits 72% operating margin in Q1, doubling profit quarter-on-quarter

DIGITIMES — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:03:04 GMT

SK Hynix reported its strongest quarterly results on record in the first quarter of 2026, with revenue of 52.58 trillion won (approximately US$37.9 billion), operating profit of 37.61 trillion won (approximately US$27.1 billion), and net profit of 40.35 trillion won (approximately US$29.1 billion).

Focus: South Korea builds a semiconductor talent pipeline

DIGITIMES — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:26:07 GMT

South Korea's long-running experiment with job-guaranteed semiconductor education is entering a more consequential phase, with the first large wave of students from expanded industry-linked programmes set to enter the workforce from 2027. The shift is drawing fresh scrutiny over whether a model built around direct hiring pipelines, practical training, and university-industry coordination can do more than produce graduates at scale and whether it can ease the country's persistent shortage of semiconductor design talent.