DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

China halts new autonomous driving permits after Baidu Apollo Go robotaxi failure

Elaine Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:32:48 GMT

After a widespread malfunction involving Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi service in Wuhan left passengers stranded and disrupted traffic, Chinese authorities have reportedly suspended the issuance of new autonomous driving permits. It marks at least the second time regulators have halted approvals following an incident linked to Baidu.

Google's TPU shortage lays bare a widening AI infrastructure edge

Elaine Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:32:20 GMT

The AI infrastructure race is no longer just about who builds the best model — it's about who controls the silicon beneath it. Google has spent more than a decade quietly constructing that foundation, and the results are now showing.

AI drives power interconnect surge as BizLink and JPC target high-end markets

Lily Hess — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:31:29 GMT

The AI wave is driving the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure, fundamentally reshaping server rack power transmission designs amid rising power consumption. This shift is triggering a surge in demand and specification upgrades for power interconnect products.

OpenAI stirs smartphone industry with 2028 AI agent phone plans

Charlene Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:31:03 GMT

OpenAI is advancing the development of an AI agent smartphone, collaborating with MediaTek and Qualcomm on a customized processor, while China's Luxshare Precision Industry exclusively handles system integration and manufacturing. The device is expected to enter mass production by 2028, signaling OpenAI's strategic push toward the most mature and intimate personal terminal: the smartphone.

Samsung SDI narrows loss as General Motors joint venture delay spurs LFP review

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:30:45 GMT

Samsung SDI reported a sharply reduced operating loss for the first quarter of 2026 as its US joint venture with General Motors (GM) is reviewing a delay to its production timeline, according to company disclosures, Korean media reports, and industry sources.

Nvidia CEO says Google's TPUs pose no threat as AI chip race heats up

Lily Hess — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:28:29 GMT

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently stated that Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) do not constitute a real threat to Nvidia. He made the comments during an interview on the Dwarkesh Podcast, where he also addressed the company's rise to a US$4 trillion market value in the large language model (LLM) era and the competitive landscape of AI chips.

Amkor advances data center CPU mass production amid manageable supply and cost risks

Charlene Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:28:03 GMT

Amkor, the world's second-largest OSAT provider, recently held its earnings call where CEO Kevin Engel highlighted strong demand for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) chips driving robust orders for advanced packaging technologies like high-density fan-out (HDFO) and flip-chip. The company's HDFO packaging platform, which had already shipped two PC chip models, has now successfully integrated an AI data center CPU application set to enter mass production in the second quarter of 2026.

Taiwan's UMT reports record profit on satellite demand

Elaine Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:27:47 GMT

Universal Microwave Technology, a Taiwanese maker of satellite and millimeter-wave components, reported record quarterly revenue and profit, driven by surging demand for low-Earth orbit satellite equipment.

Taiwan launches all-photonic network to strengthen data center resilience and AI computing backup

Rodney Chan — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:27:04 GMT

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has pledged to transform Taiwan into an "AI island," with a key focus on developing an all-photonic network (APN). The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) is acquiring APN technology from Japan's NTT and collaborating with Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) and Accton Technology to advance this initiative. Industry experts say the APN is designed to support applications through low latency and enhanced computing resilience, in line with government goals for digital robustness and computing backup.

Taiwan drones enter Ukraine battlefield, transport model drives global market expansion

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:26:41 GMT

Taiwan's expanding drone exports to Central and Eastern Europe, largely transshipped to Ukraine, underscore growing supply-chain and security implications. Growing shipments and combat deployment create opportunities for Taiwan to deepen industrial partnerships, complicate European procurement dynamics, and push democratic allies to reduce reliance on China for critical drone components and logistics.

Analysis: Chinese smart home brands outpace Western rivals with relentless innovation

Emily Kuo — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:26:22 GMT

Chinese smart home appliance brands have swept across global consumer markets on the strength of youthful, innovative brand images. Analysts point to one defining trait: product iteration cycles so fast that even European and American rivals struggle to match them. That pace, combined with a recent wave of acquisitions targeting Western and Japanese brands, has given Chinese makers growing momentum and an increasingly firm grip on the global home appliance market.

Realtek, Airoha target European and US networking infrastructure amid consumer slowdown

Emily Kuo — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:26:03 GMT

Although demand prospects for consumer applications remain relatively weak in 2026, major Taiwanese IC design companies focused on networking infrastructure chips — including Realtek Semiconductor and Airoha Technology — are still expected to deliver strong performances.

UMC profit doubles, touts Intel-backed US manufacturing option

Joseph(C) Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:07:12 GMT

United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) reported first-quarter 2026 net profit of NT$16.17 billion (approximately $490 million), up 61% quarter on quarter and more than double the year-ago figure, as wafer shipments and utilization rates both recovered. Revenue came in at NT$61.04 billion, up 5.5% year on year, with gross margin at 29.2%.

Reliance plans US$17 billion AI data centre cluster in Visakhapatnam amid India's capacity race

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:35:03 GMT

Reliance Industries is planning to invest INR1.6 trillion (over US$17 billion) to build a 1.5GW data center cluster with captive renewable energy and battery storage in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The Economic Times. The project is expected to be developed in phases and, once completed, could become India's largest data center complex.

Apple supplier Luxshare sees profits rise, but cash flow remains weak

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:24:44 GMT

Luxshare Precision Industry reported first-quarter results with strong revenue growth and higher profit, while rising costs and negative operating cash flow underscored pressure on earnings quality.

Taiwan-Germany trade shows strong growth in 1Q26

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:56:09 GMT

Taiwan and Germany reported robust bilateral trade growth in the first quarter of 2026, signaling reinforced high-tech supply-chain ties with global implications for AI-driven manufacturing and semiconductors. Rising Taiwanese electronics exports and targeted German machinery shipments suggest deeper industrial cooperation that could affect international technology sourcing and production networks.

China OSAT leader JCET expands in advanced packaging, profit climbs

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:41:31 GMT

China's leading OSAT player, JCET, reported solid first-quarter 2026 results, supported by demand in high-performance computing and automotive electronics, even as the broader semiconductor industry continues its shift toward advanced packaging.

BYD Electronics cites currency fluctuations for 1Q26 profit drop as market challenges emerge

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:23:05 GMT

Chinese components maker BYD Electronics saw a drop in profits for the first quarter of 2026. The subsidiary of EV maker BYD reported its first-quarter results on April 28, including a 95.5% annual drop in profit attributable to its parent company, hitting CNY27.83 million (US$4.1 million).

Seagate leans on long-term contracts as storage demand stabilizes

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:08:45 GMT

Seagate Technology is moving deeper into a contract-driven business model as cloud and hyperscale customers increasingly prioritize supply predictability over short-term procurement flexibility.

FCC expands ban on non-US networking devices, raising supply chain pressure

Lily Hess — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:57:48 GMT

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has further clarified restrictions on non-US network equipment by officially including mobile hotspots, portable Wi-Fi devices, and home customer-premises equipment (CPE) using LTE/5G connections in its sales ban. This move signals that the US is extending its national security-driven tech controls from fixed broadband gear to mobile network terminals.

China memory chip designer Montage lifts profit on DDR5, AI server demand

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:46:27 GMT

China-based memory interface chip supplier Montage Technology reported solid first-quarter 2026 results, supported by rising demand for AI servers and accelerating adoption of next-generation memory technologies.

Supermicro opens largest US campus in Silicon Valley, producing AI infrastructure

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:55:47 GMT

Supermicro's new 32.8-acre Silicon Valley campus will add hundreds of US positions and expand domestic production of AI infrastructure, signaling increased US capacity for enterprises and cloud providers worldwide. The expansion may affect global AI deployment timelines and supply-chain choices by boosting domestic system design, manufacturing, testing, and distribution capabilities.

TSMC exits Arm investment with US$231 million sale

Joseph(C) Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:37:56 GMT

TSMC has fully divested its stake in Arm Holdings, selling approximately 1.11 million shares at US$207.65 each for a total of US$231 million, the company disclosed on April 29, 2026. The transaction generated roughly US$174 million in retained earnings.

Seagate sees agentic AI beginning to lift HDD demand

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:12:02 GMT

Seagate Technology said emerging agentic artificial intelligence workloads are beginning to support demand for hard disk drives, as automated workflows generate and retain larger volumes of unstructured data.

Seagate tops estimates, raises outlook on cloud, AI demand

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:58:37 GMT

Seagate Technology reported fiscal third-quarter results above market expectations and issued a stronger-than-anticipated outlook, driven by sustained demand from cloud customers and AI-related workloads.

Taiwan urges early quantum computing industry involvement before standards are set

Rodney Chan — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:57:20 GMT

Taiwan's minister of economic affairs, Ming-hsin Kung, emphasized that the industrialization threshold for quantum computing is exceptionally high, and Taiwan's industry is currently exploring how to participate in and align with international developments. He stressed that Taiwan should engage with the field before standards are finalized, leveraging its advantages in process technology and advanced packaging — both of which are key factors in quantum computer manufacturing. The country's system integration capabilities are also crucial for practical quantum technology applications.

Commentary: How TSMC anchors Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain from within

Charlene Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:56:44 GMT

As competition in the semiconductor industry intensifies, TSMC maintains its lead while actively supporting the domestic supply chain. In recent years, driven by the need for cost reduction, breaking international monopolies, and the ability to respond rapidly to disruptions, TSMC has taken multiple actions to nurture local suppliers. Notably, TSMC has played a critical role as a "supply chain stabilizer," stepping in during key moments.

BYD reports steep drop in profit despite global expansion

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:48:39 GMT

BYD, China's largest electric vehicle maker, reported a sharp decline in first-quarter profit, as intensifying competition and global market volatility weighed on earnings even as the company continued to expand overseas.

Automotive and networking chips move directly to 2nm as AI demand tightens capacity

Elaine Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:46:55 GMT

Demand for advanced chips at TSMC is tightening amid the AI boom, with its 3nm process becoming increasingly congested as major customers compete for limited capacity.

Nvidia taps Nanya for AI racks with LPDDR equivalent to 4,500 smartphones per rack

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:01:04 GMT

The AI boom is pushing memory demand well beyond high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Low-power DRAM is now under pressure too, with shortages emerging as chip developers including Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Tesla adopt LPDDR in next-generation processors, according to Chosun Biz.

US escalates chip war, targets Hua Hong's 7nm ambitions just ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

DIGITIMES — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:47:28 GMT

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has reportedly issued "is-informed" letters to several major wafer fab equipment (WFE) manufacturers, ordering an immediate halt to tool shipments destined for Hua Hong Semiconductor, China's second-largest foundry.

UMT identifies UK partner linked to Starlink supply chain

Elaine Chen — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:42:27 GMT

Universal Microwave Technology, a Taiwanese maker of satellite and millimeter-wave components, has disclosed a previously unnamed European customer supplying high-power amplifiers for SpaceX, underscoring the growing role of Taiwan's supply chain in the global race to build low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks.

China's GPU IPO wave meets its hardest test: cluster stability

Levi Li — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:20:49 GMT

China's GPU startups, including Moore Threads, MetaX, and Biren, are gaining ground in the AI accelerator market. But as demand shifts from training to inference, cluster stability, software maturity, and cost efficiency are emerging as the real constraints.

Hsinchu water restrictions ease as reservoirs rebound

Eifeh Strom — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:19:45 GMT

Taiwan's Water Resources Agency (WRA) disaster emergency response team held its third working meeting on April 27, deciding to downgrade the water status signal in Hsinchu from a "pressure-reducing" yellow light to a "conservation" green light. This change follows a rise in water levels at Baoshan Reservoir and Second Baoshan Reservoir to nearly 70%. The voluntary water-saving target for science parks and industrial parks was also lowered from 7% to 5%.

Supreme's 1Q26 server revenue surpasses mobile as CSP demand boosts memory prices

Lily Hess — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Memory distributor Supreme Electronics (Supreme) saw its revenue double in the first quarter of 2026, driven by a sharp rise in memory prices. DRAM and Flash accounted for nearly 90% of total sales, with server revenue share reaching about 40%—surpassing mobile for the first time. Strong demand from cloud service providers (CSPs) is driving server memory prices higher, a trend expected to extend into the second quarter of 2026.