DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Simplo Technology reports lower third-quarter profit as laptop peak season disappoints

DIGITIMES — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:58:06 GMT

Simplo Technology's third-quarter net profit attributable to shareholders fell 27.6% from the previous quarter as laptop demand softened during the traditional peak season and a US customer's poor smartphone yields weighed on operations. The battery-module maker said weak laptop shipments are expected to continue through the first quarter of 2027, while higher component costs may ease in the second half.

Himax sees 4Q26 auto DDI orders plunge

DIGITIMES — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:50:52 GMT

Himax Technologies expects fourth-quarter 2026 revenue decline after automotive customers reduced orders following inventory restocking, highlighting the volatility of semiconductor demand tied to vehicle exports. The display-chip maker forecast sequential revenue falling 22% to 26%, while maintaining that automotive timing-controller sales and longer-term smart-vehicle opportunities remain on a growth path.

Tong Hsing buys Global Testing to become integrated OSAT provider

DIGITIMES — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:34:48 GMT

Tong Hsing Electronic Industries (THEIL), a semiconductor packaging company under the YAGEO Group, said its board has approved the acquisition of a 100% stake in Singapore-listed Global Testing Corporation for approximately SGD76.71 million (US$59.88 million). The deal will take Global Testing private and is intended to transform Tong Hsing from a traditional packaging manufacturer into a comprehensive packaging and testing service provider.

Laster Tech posts third-quarter loss as shortages delay shipments

DIGITIMES — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:34:12 GMT

Taiwanese LED automotive lighting module maker Laster Tech reported a net loss of NT$150 million in the third quarter of 2026, as component shortages disrupted production schedules and left shipments below expectations. Higher depreciation and operating expenses during the initial operation of its new Mexico plant, along with a one-time workforce restructuring charge at its Shanghai plant, also weighed on results.

Systex hits record October revenue on overseas semiconductor expansion

DIGITIMES — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:24:56 GMT

Systex Corporation reported October 2026 consolidated revenue of NT$3.564 billion (US$108.8 million), up 11.64% from NT$3.192 billion a year earlier, as overseas expansion by semiconductor and high-tech manufacturers boosted cross-border IT equipment demand.

Taiwan exports hit record US$96.76 billion in October

DIGITIMES — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 00:23:47 GMT

Taiwan's exports rose 58.9% year on year to a record US$96.76 billion in October, as strong investment in global artificial intelligence infrastructure boosted demand across related supply chains. Imports also set a monthly record at US$68.89 billion, while the Ministry of Finance (MOF) forecast exports would maintain strong growth in the fourth quarter.

Nvidia's Taiwan partners rally despite Jensen probe

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 09:57:50 GMT

Shares of Nvidia's major Taiwanese manufacturing partners rose on Monday despite mounting concerns over CEO Jensen Huang's future, suggesting that investors have yet to price in significant disruption to the AI chipmaker's supply chain.

Taiwan President taps chip strengths for self-reliant space push

Yunnie Cheng — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 09:33:53 GMT

Taiwan will continuously elevate its self-reliant space technology capabilities while leveraging its long-standing strengths in semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, and precision manufacturing, President Ching-Te Lai stated today (Nov. 9) as the 2026 Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology, and Industry (TASTI 2026) opened in the southern Taiwan city of Tainan.

SK chief defends Samsung and SK's US$3.5 trillion investment plans

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 09:29:36 GMT

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won has defended Samsung and SK's combined KRW4,755 trillion (approx. US$3.52 trillion) investment plans, arguing that South Korea cannot keep pace in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race without committing unprecedented amounts of capital.

KYEC warns AI demand is amplifying semiconductor supply-chain risks

Charlene Chen — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 09:09:11 GMT

King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) president Gauss Chang said the AI era is creating new challenges for capacity expansion, as rapidly rising chip prices and shorter product cycles are reshaping the value of semiconductor testing. He also warned that demand can become increasingly distorted as it moves through the AI supply chain, making actual end-market demand difficult to assess.

Musk targets 3Q27 launch for Nvidia-powered space data centers, massive scale by 2029

Yunnie Cheng — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 08:54:59 GMT

On November 7, local US time, Elon Musk appeared remotely at the 33rd Baron Investment Conference in New York. During an hour-long conversation with Baron Capital founder Ron Baron, Musk repeatedly framed space-based computing power as a strategic asset.

Nvidia teams up with SK Telecom and Rebellions to develop AI inference systems

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 08:34:38 GMT

Nvidia, SK Telecom and South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions have agreed to develop rack-scale AI inference systems that combine Nvidia GPUs with Rebellions' next-generation neural processing units (NPUs), bringing Korean-designed accelerators into Nvidia's data center infrastructure.

AI chip testing demands lift Taiwan's wafer testing specialist HTSI as October revenue surges 62%

Levi Li — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 08:21:54 GMT

Taiwanese semiconductor wafer testing solutions provider Hermes Testing Solution Inc. (HTSI) reported sustained revenue growth in October, supported by steady demand for high-power thermal management modules, cleaning materials and engineering services.

Foxconn unveils second-gen PEARL satellites at expo

Charlene Chen — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 08:21:22 GMT

Foxconn showcased its second-generation PEARL-1A and PEARL-1B low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites at TASTI 2026, highlighting its shift from single-satellite validation to coordinated two-satellite communications. The company also exhibited satellite communications modules, phased-array antennas, user terminals, and key cabling.

Megaspeed chip smuggling probe puts Nvidia NCP certification under scrutiny

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 08:05:08 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang appears to have become a target of Chinese intelligence activity, while his admission of an extramarital affair has drawn attention to his relationship with a former female executive at Singapore data-center operator Megaspeed. The episode highlights chip-transshipment risks and export-control loopholes in Singapore and Malaysia.

Anthropic buys US$3.4B in generators for AI data centers

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:56:23 GMT

Anthropic has committed US$3.4 billion to acquire 1.7 GW of heavy-duty gas-fired generators, along with the engineering and construction services needed to install them, marking the largest single power-equipment purchase by an AI company.

Texas AI data-center expansion hits brakes under new governor

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:55:34 GMT

Texas' incoming Democratic governor, Gina Hinojosa, plans to reassess the state's partnerships with the technology sector and strengthen oversight of data-center expansion, potentially reshaping policy for AI data centers and major technology companies. She also said any cooperation with Elon Musk and his companies must prioritize the interests of Texas residents.

Doosan expands CCL production in China and South Korea to meet AI demand

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:55:00 GMT

Doosan is moving ahead with a roughly KRW970 billion (approx. US$716 million) expansion of copper-clad laminate (CCL) production in South Korea and China as demand for AI accelerators, network switches and high-speed optical modules puts pressure on existing manufacturing capacity.

Samsung, SK Hynix race to secure EUV tools as ASML warns of shortages

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:50:29 GMT

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are competing to secure extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment from ASML as the Dutch supplier warns that its planned capacity will fall short of customer demand in 2027 and 2028, raising concerns about the availability of critical tools for advanced DRAM expansion.

US-approved Nvidia H200 handlers in China include firms with empty offices and blacklist ties

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:34:27 GMT

Washington's case for letting Nvidia sell H200 chips to China rested on case-by-case national-security screening. A New York Times investigation published on November 7 suggests that the screening cleared companies whose listed offices stood empty and whose owners have ties to firms on the US trade blacklist. The findings sharpen doubts over whether the licensing channel can keep advanced AI hardware away from restricted entities.

Nvidia's Korea deals proceed despite Jensen probe as Kakao Mobility signs Level 4 autonomous driving pact

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:27:47 GMT

Nvidia is pitching South Korea's factories as the proving ground for robots trained in simulation. At its AI Day Seoul 2026 event on November 9, the company detailed physical AI projects with Hyundai Motor Group, Doosan Robotics, LG Electronics, and SK Hynix, and signed an autonomous driving agreement with Kakao Mobility, even as a controversy surrounding chief executive Jensen Huang hung over the gathering.

Exclusive: Gallium oxide prepares to tackle power semiconductor market with 6-inch mass production and 8-inch breakthroughs

Yunnie Cheng — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:23:20 GMT

Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) is approaching a pivotal industrial inflection point. On one hand, wafer sizes are scaling up to seamlessly integrate with existing semiconductor manufacturing lines. On the other hand, material prices are expected to decline substantially starting in 2027. The convergence of these two trends is unlocking commercial viability for this new high-voltage power material, which targets ultra-high-voltage applications above 3,000V and grid infrastructure in the 10kV class.

DeepSeek Harness active users quadruple as plugin ecosystem expands

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:15:00 GMT

DeepSeek said its open-source AI agent framework, DeepSeek Harness, had 1.54 million daily active users as of November 4, more than quadrupling in less than three months. The company also plans to launch an official plugin marketplace to expand its developer ecosystem.

Chang Wah Technology holds high utilization, boosts China investment

Lily Hess — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 07:08:36 GMT

Chang Wah Technology reported October consolidated revenue of NT$1.715 billion (US$52.2 million), up 0.09% month-over-month and 50.83% year-over-year, as demand remained strong despite a weeklong holiday in China and some customers pulling shipments forward into September. Revenue for the first 10 months of 2025 reached NT$14.621 billion, up 32.17% year-over-year.

Paras Semiconductors teams with US-based BroadPak on advanced packaging plant in India

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 06:53:51 GMT

Paras Semiconductors, a subsidiary of Indian defense company Paras Defence & Space Technologies, announced a strategic technology partnership with US-based BroadPak Corporation on November 6 to build advanced semiconductor packaging capabilities in India, anchored by a planned INR62 billion (US$658.77 million) OSAT facility in Madhya Pradesh.

Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron forge rare alliance to pave way for unmanned chip fabs

Levi Li — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 06:51:32 GMT

Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron are reportedly collaborating on charging standards for mobile robots used in semiconductor fabs, seeking to accelerate factory automation and lay the groundwork for unmanned manufacturing. The initiative is unusual as it brought together major industry rivals to standardise robotic components, equipment, communications and system interfaces, potentially drawing broader attention across the semiconductor industry.

China extends 24% US tariff suspension, but Section 301 threat clouds trade truce

Levi Li — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 06:33:02 GMT

China announced on November 9 that it would extend the suspension of an additional 24% tariff on US imports for another two months, while retaining the 10% additional tariff, following agreements reached during talks between Chinese and US leaders in Washington. The extension, announced by the State Council Tariff Commission, will take effect at 1:01pm on November 10, 2026, and is intended to maintain stability in bilateral trade relations.

Samsung's Texas fab may begin trial runs in December

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 06:31:08 GMT

Samsung Electronics may begin trial runs across its Taylor, Texas, foundry in mid-to-late December 2026 as it installs and tests manufacturing equipment ahead of planned commercial production in 2027.

Musk's Terafab reportedly targets memory output on par with Samsung's DRAM capacity

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 06:10:26 GMT

Terafab, the chipmaking venture backed by Tesla and SpaceX, is reportedly planning memory output that would rival the world's largest DRAM maker. Japanese and Korean equipment and materials suppliers are already being courted to help build it, though suppliers and analysts question whether the schedule and the demand will hold.

Onsemi drops US$2 billion Czech SiC expansion amid pressure from cheaper Chinese wafers

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 06:04:58 GMT

Onsemi has abandoned a plan to invest up to US$2 billion in end-to-end silicon carbide (SiC) production in the Czech Republic, a reversal that Czech media have linked to low-cost Chinese SiC wafers undercutting Western producers.

In US-China AI data center race, America's 118 GW capacity forecast faces China's rapid expansion by 2030

Levi Li — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 05:57:41 GMT

Surging demand for AI computing is accelerating data center construction in both the US and China, although the US is expected to retain a substantial lead in installed capacity through 2030.

Microsoft reportedly phasing out Oracle compute, reassessing cloud deals

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 05:48:28 GMT

Microsoft is phasing out a rented compute capacity agreement with Oracle after deciding not to renew a contract with the cloud provider. The separation is a part of a larger rethinking of the software giant's cloud partnerships as the neocloud business model comes under growing scrutiny.

China's smart cockpits reach 100% domestic assembly, but foreign tech still controls over 70% of the core

Levi Li — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 04:47:57 GMT

China accounts for approximately 36% of the global smart cockpit market, with an established presence in automotive displays, head-up displays (HUDs), voice interaction and cockpit domain controller integration. Yet its strength in system integration has not translated into control over core technologies, leaving the industry heavily dependent on foreign suppliers, according to Wang Chao, a professor at Beijing University of Technology cited by Chinese media. The coming years could prove decisive for Chinese companies seeking greater technological autonomy.

Musk says SpaceX annual recurring revenue likely to top US$500 billion by December 2027

DIGITIMES — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 04:47:19 GMT

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company's annual recurring revenue (ARR) will likely exceed US$500 billion in December 2027, and that a US$1 trillion run rate is no longer out of the question. However, he put the odds of the higher figure at about 2%. Musk made the remarks on November 6 during a virtual fireside chat with investor Ron Baron at the 33rd Annual Baron Investment Conference in New York, according to a clip posted by Sawyer Merritt on X and a transcript published by Tesla North.

Robots spur transmission makers to target customized niches

Charlene Chen — Mon, 9 Nov 2026 04:37:28 GMT

Taiwan's machinery industry has gained strong momentum in recent years, with robust demand for semiconductors, AI applications, industrial automation and smart manufacturing driving sustained exports. The growth is benefiting not only equipment makers but also upstream suppliers of key components, including transmission-component manufacturers, demand for which has risen despite a prolonged downturn in the machine-tool market.