DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Foxtron pivots overseas strategy toward Europe as EV competition intensifies

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:18:05 GMT

Foxtron is shifting its overseas plans toward Europe as global electric vehicle competition heats up and trade barriers rise. Chairman Andy Lee said the company will use local partnerships and its BOL model to build a stronger regional base while aiming to reduce risk, deepen supply chains, and expand long-term market reach.

Commentary: Micron turns AI memory crunch into a buyback story

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:12:51 GMT

Micron Technology is turning the AI memory boom into a new Wall Street story: not just record DRAM, NAND and HBM demand, but stronger free cash flow, long-term customer commitments and a clearer path to shareholder returns.

Micron says AI memory shortage will outlast 2027, locks in US$100 billion customer deals

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:12:25 GMT

Micron Technology expects the global memory market to remain supply-constrained beyond 2027, driven by surging artificial intelligence demand and structural limits on new manufacturing capacity, while unveiling a new long-term supply model backed by strategic customer agreements.

Automotive memory and LFP material costs surge, impact seen with Chinese automakers

Emily Kuo — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:07:09 GMT

Surging prices for automotive memory and lithium carbonate, a key upstream material for lithium batteries, have become a challenge regarding Chinese automakers' profit margins this year. Industry sources say that after BYD took the lead in raising prices in May, fifteen other automakers followed suit. However, the move was met with Tesla's effective price cuts and brands maintaining their pricing, attracting consumers away from competitors and forcing many automakers that had raised prices to quickly reverse course through various forms of disguised discounts to calm market concerns.

TSMC-Amkor alliance jolts packaging map as ASE races to expand

Charlene Chen — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:05:31 GMT

The global semiconductor packaging and testing race is heating up as TSMC recently signed a 10-year agreement with Amkor to expand advanced packaging collaboration in Arizona, drawing close market attention to how the rivalry with ASE and Amkor will reshape market share. ASE Chief Operating Officer Tien Wu said he is "optimistic," stating that strong demand from US customers and the need to diversify supply-chain risk make deeper global investment inevitable.

Nvidia CPO roadmap positions TSMC COUPE for next AI infrastructure wave

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:01:10 GMT

Co-packaged optics (CPO) is rapidly emerging as a foundational architecture for next-generation AI infrastructure. With Nvidia's latest Scale-Up CPO switch roadmap now taking shape, bandwidth per AI rack is set to increase from approximately 130 TB/s in the Blackwell generation to more than 1 PB/s in the Feynman era, spanning Blackwell, Rubin, Rubin Ultra, and Feynman platforms. As a result, the global AI race is rapidly expanding beyond GPU compute, with optical interconnects, silicon photonics, and CPO emerging as the next major battleground.

Coplus developing Nvidia-backed AI headlights

Rodney Chan — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:00:45 GMT

Coplus took a cautiously optimistic view of the second half of 2026 during an investors conference on June 24. The Taiwan-based auto parts supplier said it has lined up countermeasures after its first-quarter 2026 operations were hit by US tariffs and geopolitical tensions, and is moving from traditional automotive lighting into AIoT.

Chinese chip packaging giant JCET plans US$1.1b AI chip packaging plant

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:51:01 GMT

JCET Group is accelerating its AI chip packaging expansion with a CNY7.8 billion (US$1.1 billion) investment in a new advanced packaging and testing plant in Shanghai Lingang, strengthening capacity for AI computing, high-performance chips, high-density memory and automotive electronics.

China moves to build helium reserve as Nippon Sanso sets over 30% price hike

Sherri Wang — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:46:47 GMT

Global helium supply is under renewed strain. Nippon Sanso, Japan's largest industrial gas supplier, announced it will raise prices across its helium product line by an average of more than 30% starting July 2026, citing persistent tightness in global supply driven in part by rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

TSMC 3nm lead times surpass one year as Samsung faces Intel in foundry push

Charlene Chen — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:39:41 GMT

As demand for AI chips surges, the battle for foundry orders is heating up. South Korean industry sources say the next 2-3 years will be a critical period for Samsung Electronics' foundry business, with its 2028 turnaround target hinging on stable operations at the Taylor plant and landing major orders.

AI server demand drives sharp price gains in high-end MLCCs

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:35:27 GMT

Rising demand for AI server builds is tightening the global supply of high-end MLCCs, driving steep price increases in China's electronics distribution market and exposing how quickly infrastructure demand can affect component costs worldwide. The rally underscores a structural mismatch that could keep pressure on buyers across technology supply chains for years, according to industry sources.

JD.com targets 700,000 workers for retraining as robots reshape logistics

Lily Hess — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:27:38 GMT

Founder and chairman of Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com Qiangdong Liu said at the 2026 APEC Business Leaders China Forum that logistics and delivery work will gradually be handled by robots, with many courier jobs likely to be replaced by automation. He added that JD.com has launched an internal program called the "Nirvana Plan" to help about 700,000 logistics and blue-collar employees retrain and transition as AI reshapes the industry.

China's 360 unveils AI cybersecurity tools claimed to rival Anthropic's Mythos

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:25:53 GMT

Chinese cybersecurity company 360 Security Technology has unveiled a pair of AI-powered cybersecurity tools that it says can match the capabilities of Anthropic's highly restricted Mythos system, marking China's latest effort to narrow the gap with leading US AI technologies.

ByteDance's reported AI chip orders mark breakthrough for Chinese GPU maker Iluvatar CoreX

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:23:50 GMT

ByteDance's reported plan to purchase at least 50,000 AI inference chips from Shanghai-based GPU developer Iluvatar CoreX could become one of the most significant commercial wins yet for China's domestic AI chip industry.

IC design firms race to secure packaging capacity

Lily Hess — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:19:59 GMT

IC design firms are scrambling to expand their partner networks as tight packaging and testing capacity remain the most pressing bottleneck in the supply chain. Companies in Taiwan, Europe, and the US say the shortage is worse than expected, pushing packaging, testing, and related materials into broader supply constraints.

Nvidia's Huang puts national security first as he touts an AI factory boom at the annual meeting

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:09:25 GMT

At Nvidia's June 25 annual shareholder meeting, CEO Jensen Huang declared that national security "comes first" wherever it conflicts with commercial opportunity, pledging full compliance with US export controls while casting the chipmaker as a core pillar of America's AI and semiconductor industrial base.

ProLogium and Elysian Aircraft sign MoU to explore solid-state batteries for electric aviation

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:54:25 GMT

ProLogium, a Taiwanese battery maker specializing in next generation lithium ceramic cells, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Elysian Aircraft, a Dutch aerospace startup developing large battery-electric aircraft.

MediaTek, Google reportedly deepen ASIC ties as SerDes race hits 448G

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:51:05 GMT

MediaTek is reportedly strengthening its partnership with Google in ASICs, a move that could increase the scale of future orders and carry implications for AI infrastructure worldwide. Market talk suggests the company may build an upgraded triggerfish product for Google, underscoring how global chipmakers are vying for influence in TPU development.

Qualcomm integrates Dragonfly data center systems into expanded Hugging Face AI partnership

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:41:11 GMT

Qualcomm Technologies is expanding its partnership with Hugging Face to bring open AI tools from devices to cloud infrastructure, a move that could affect developers and enterprises worldwide. The collaboration aims to simplify AI deployment across the compute continuum while enabling faster, more flexible, and more scalable hybrid AI applications.

SK Hynix eyes record Nasdaq ADR to fund AI memory expansion

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:30:17 GMT

SK Hynix said on June 24 its board approved a plan to issue new shares backing American Depositary Receipts on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, targeting up to KRW45.45 trillion (approx. US$29.43 billion) in proceeds for semiconductor facility investment.

Anthropic accuses Alibaba of largest distillation attack on Claude, escalating the US-China AI fight

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:04:16 GMT

Anthropic's claim that Alibaba "illicitly" harvested its Claude model marks the biggest alleged case yet of a Chinese firm copying a top US lab, sharpening a national-security debate in Washington over AI intellectual property — even as Anthropic, valued at US$965 billion and eyeing an IPO, feuds with the White House over its own export limits.

OpenAI debuts Broadcom-designed, TSMC-built inference chip as model makers diversify silicon

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:03:13 GMT

OpenAI on June 24 unveiled "Jalapeño," its first in-house AI accelerator, co-developed with Broadcom and manufactured by TSMC — the clearest sign yet that leading model developers want to design their own chips and broaden a supply chain long dominated by Nvidia.

Acer Gadget sees double-digit growth as PC peripherals and smart living drive expansion

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:33:57 GMT

Acer Gadget said momentum in its core PC peripherals and smart living accessories businesses drove a record revenue start to 2026, signaling potential improvement in operating performance later this year. For global consumers and retailers, the company's gains highlight how cross-border e-commerce, pricing pressure, and product mix shifts are shaping demand across major online platforms.

E Ink subsidiary scales solvent-free OCA to support higher-quality, lower-carbon displays

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:30:18 GMT

E.Comis Technology, a subsidiary of E Ink Holdings Group, said it has scaled a self-developed, solvent-free optically clear adhesive to meet growing demand for thinner displays, better image quality, and more sustainable manufacturing. The development could affect display products sold worldwide, as brands and suppliers seek materials that improve performance, durability, and lower-carbon production.

Taiwan-US tariff deal cuts auto parts duties to 15% and reshapes supply chains

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:27:51 GMT

Taiwan's agreement with the US to cap tariffs on auto parts at 15% is prompting suppliers to rethink production and shipping plans, with implications that extend beyond the island's factories. The move could reshape pricing for global buyers, shift sourcing away from China, and improve Taiwan's role in the North American aftermarket.

Qualcomm pushes into data center chips with Dragonfly lineup and Meta deal, taking aim at Nvidia

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:09:21 GMT

Qualcomm used its June 24 investor day to unveil a data center chip portfolio and a multi-generation CPU agreement with Meta, a strategic bid to diversify beyond a shrinking smartphone business and challenge Nvidia's dominance — while courting Chinese demand and leaning on manufacturing partner TSMC.

Micron forecasts stronger AI-driven growth as strategic agreements reshape memory market

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:05:18 GMT

On June 24, Micron Technology reported record fiscal third-quarter results and issued a fourth-quarter forecast that significantly exceeded market expectations, reinforcing investor confidence in the AI infrastructure boom. Analysts said the company's expanding portfolio of multi-year customer agreements could help reduce the memory industry's traditional volatility, while persistent supply constraints are expected to support pricing and profitability through at least 2027.

Foxconn and Sharp sign strategic pact to prioritize AI servers and smart infrastructure

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:01:33 GMT

Foxconn announced on June 24 that it signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation with Japan's Sharp Corp., with both companies centering the partnership on complementary strengths and resource integration under Foxconn's "3+3+3" strategic framework.

ITRI and 30 firms form Taiwan consortium to accelerate unmanned vehicle R&D and exports

DIGITIMES — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:56 GMT

In response to global non-red supply chain realignment and the need to develop key autonomous technologies for unmanned vehicles, Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) recently joined with multiple major drone makers to form the Taiwan Unmanned Vehicle System Development Consortium (TUVSC). The consortium will focus on four core goals aimed at strengthening Taiwan's autonomous R&D capacity in unmanned vehicles and helping the industry connect with international markets.

China wafer champion turns to US$1.6B overhaul to stop losses

Levi Li — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:59:59 GMT

National Silicon Industry Group, China's leading 12-inch silicon wafer maker, has announced a CNY11.45 billion (US$1.6 billion) capital injection into its core subsidiary Shanghai Xinsheng Semiconductor Technology, in a restructuring aimed at easing losses in its wafer business.

Acbel advances into Europe with onboard chargers and ChargePoint collaboration

DIGITIMES — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:53:45 GMT

Acbel Polytech showcased onboard power conversion products and a co-developed charging station solution with ChargePoint at Power2Drive Europe in Munich on June 23, signaling a stepped-up push into Europe's electric vehicle power and charging infrastructure market. The company said the move targets growing European demand for energy-efficient EV systems, smart charging, and charging network expansion.

China PC shipments fall as Huawei gains ground in weakening market

DIGITIMES — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:53:17 GMT

China's personal computer market weakened in the first quarter of 2026, with shipments down 2% from a year earlier, according to Omdia. The decline reflects softer consumer demand, economic uncertainty, and rising component costs, trends that may affect global PC supply, pricing, and vendor strategy throughout the year.

Phison says NAND shortage has no end in sight as orders are booked into 2Q27

Sherri Wang — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:52:52 GMT

Phison Electronics CEO Khein-seng Pua said the NAND flash market is facing a supply crunch with "no end in sight," as AI continues to crowd out memory capacity and push storage demand higher.

Nvidia and AWS deepen push to simplify AI infrastructure at scale

DIGITIMES — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:51:54 GMT

Nvidia and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are expanding tools that could make it easier for companies worldwide to build and run large-scale AI systems. The changes aim to improve speed, lower costs, and reduce operational complexity across inference, search, and training, which could influence how global enterprises deploy production AI.

Japan, France push to secure rare-earth supply beyond China

DIGITIMES — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:51:29 GMT

Japan and France are moving to reduce their reliance on Chinese heavy rare earths, backing a recycling project in southwestern France that is expected to supply materials used in high-performance permanent magnets for electric vehicles, defense equipment, aircraft and wind-power motors.

SK Group to meet Tesla and SpaceX leadership to pursue AI-infrastructure and memory partnerships

DIGITIMES — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:51:07 GMT

SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won is planning to meet Tesla and SpaceX leadership in the US at the end of June 2026 to advance cooperation on next-generation AI infrastructure, memory supply, and data-center projects, South Korean outlet Ddaily reported, citing industry sources. The meeting is expected to cover specific business collaboration plans with Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, though the exact date was kept confidential.

EverFocus launches Nvidia-based edge AI vision push into North America

DIGITIMES — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:50:40 GMT

EverFocus Electronics has announced a North America market expansion that includes participation in Automate 2026 and inclusion in Nvidia's official Interactive Ecosystem Map, aimed at bringing Taiwan supplier edge AI vision technology into US advanced manufacturing and logistics. The firm said it will leverage an Nvidia-based edge AI platform to demonstrate multimodal integration of imaging and voice, and to showcase a mobile robot connection model for smart factory inspections.

Power-Win expands into EV battery recycling as Jiadong plant ramps up

DIGITIMES — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:50:12 GMT

Power-Win Technology Co. Chairman Lin Pei-yi said following the company's June 23 shareholders meeting that its core battery recycling and processing business has benefited from process improvements, equipment-efficiency upgrades, and enhanced production management, driving growth in both processing volumes and revenue.

Techzone builds circular economy to tap rising semiconductor expansion demand

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:49:37 GMT

Techzone Technology Materials, a provider of one of Taiwan's few integrated waste treatment, renewable energy, and recycling solutions, is actively addressing the waste treatment demand driven by semiconductor capacity expansion. Together with its subsidiaries Han-Yang Technology Renewable Energy and Sunlight Environment, the company has a combined annual treatment capacity of 239,000 tons.

Foxtron enters overseas expansion phase as passenger vehicles, buses scale in 2027

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:48:51 GMT

Foxtron Vehicle Technologies held its investor conference call on June 23, stating operations in the first half of 2026 followed a pattern of a slow start but strong finish.

SK Hynix to issue US$29 billion in new shares for Nasdaq ADR listing on July 10

DIGITIMES — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:06:38 GMT

SK Hynix disclosed in regulatory filings to South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service and the Korea Exchange on June 24 that its board has approved the issuance of new shares worth KRW45,453,450,000,000 (approx. USUS$29.4 billion) to support a listing of American Depositary Receipts on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The filings represent the company's formal confirmation of a listing plan that market rumors had pointed to since at least December 2025, when SK Hynix first received and responded to regulatory inquiries about the speculation.