DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Samsung to offer 2nm prototype runs as South Korea pushes chip design

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:07:06 GMT

Samsung Electronics' foundry division plans to open its Multi-Project Wafer, or MPW, service to its 2nm process next year, giving South Korean fabless chip designers access to one of the most advanced foundry nodes being commercialized without having to pay for a full wafer run, according to ZDNet Korea and iNews24.

TSMC, ASML and Imec push 2D transistors toward manufacturing

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:06:54 GMT

Imec, ASML and TSMC have demonstrated a 300mm integration route for 2D-material n-type and p-type field-effect transistors, marking a step toward moving atomically thin channel materials from laboratory devices closer to semiconductor manufacturing.

SK Hynix ships HBM4E samples to customers

DIGITIMES — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:06:38 GMT

SK Hynix has begun shipping samples of HBM4E, its next-generation high-bandwidth memory, to major customers. The South Korean chipmaker said the 12-layer product was delivered on schedule.

AbonMax eyes double-digit drone revenue by end-2026

Lily Hess — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:55:52 GMT

AbonMax Technology said on June 16 that drone revenue still accounts for only about 7% to 8% of its total sales, but the company expects more visible operating results by the end of 2026 as government procurement orders and overseas expansion begin to take effect.

Samsung pushes vertical transistor design as chip scaling hits limits

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:55:23 GMT

Samsung Electronics has demonstrated a 3D stacked transistor structure with a 42-nanometer gate pitch, a research milestone that extends vertical integration, long used in memory chips, into logic semiconductors.

Taiyo Yuden to boost AI server MLCC capacity, resists price hikes

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:54:55 GMT

Taiyo Yuden is preparing to accelerate production of multilayer ceramic capacitors, or MLCCs, as AI servers and hyperscale data centers tighten supply across the global component market. But the Japanese supplier is resisting the kind of broad price increases now spreading through parts of the industry.

Samsung said to open fab data to suppliers in AI factory push

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:54:36 GMT

Samsung Electronics is developing and operating a data-sharing platform with semiconductor materials, components and equipment suppliers, according to a report by South Korea's ETNews, which cited industry sources.

Meta puts brakes on AI use as token costs hit tech giants

Lily Hess — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:54:06 GMT

Meta's internal AI costs have spiraled, and a broader pullback in spending by major tech companies is bringing a long-ignored contradiction into focus: the business logic of AI is being undermined by the cost pressure it creates.

Taiwan 2026 GDP could top 10%, says Minister of Economic Affairs

Lily Hess — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:53:40 GMT

Taiwan's 2026 GDP growth is on track to exceed 10% as AI demand powers the island's economy, Minister of Economic Affairs Ming-hsin Kung said, adding that this level of growth may be achieved given current trends. He pointed to stronger-than-expected exports from the AI supply chain and traditional industries such as machinery.

SK Hynix scraps degree rules to court AI chip talent

Lily Hess — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:52:43 GMT

SK Hynix has eliminated degree requirements from its regular recruitment process for new employees, as the memory chip giant seeks to strengthen its lead in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and secure talent for the fast-changing AI semiconductor market. Industry watchers said the move reflects a greater focus on practical creativity and execution in the AI era rather than formal academic credentials.

China launches probe into Beidou infrastructure quality scandal

Lily Hess — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:52:15 GMT

China has launched a probe into a Beidou high-precision smart monitoring project in Shandong, after reports of severe construction defects at the base sparked public concern over the quality of new infrastructure projects. The project, with a total investment of nearly CNY300 million (US$44.4 million), has drawn scrutiny after its base structures were described as "easy to tear apart by hand."

SK Group tops KRW2,000 trillion as AI memory demand and Nvidia visit lift valuation

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:51:55 GMT

SK Group's combined market capitalization on the South Korean stock market surpassed KRW2,000 trillion (US$1.32 trillion) for the first time as of the June 16 close, driven by strength in AI memory demand and a high-profile visit by Nvidia's CEO that reinforced ties with SK Hynix and broader AI infrastructure plans. According to reports from SBS, YTN, ET News and Yonhap, the group's 19 listed subsidiaries reached a combined market value of KRW2,019.6 trillion, a 2.5% increase from the previous trading day.

WUS and its subsidiary keep complementary AI partnership

Lily Hess — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:51:36 GMT

A recent open letter from the UK-based fund Palliser Capital called Taiwanese printed circuit board (PCB) maker WUS Printed Circuit one of the most undervalued AI PCB companies in the capital market. This has once drawn industry attention to the current business cooperation between WUS and its subsidiary in China, WUS Printed Circuit Kunshan.

Research Insight: Fukuta deepens EV moat with hub motors and thin silicon steel

Charlene Chen — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:51:07 GMT

As the global electric vehicle (EV) market enters a correction phase, automakers are demanding more from both cost and efficiency. Fukuta has been steadily extending the design, integration, and manufacturing capabilities it built in automotive multi-in-one power systems into smaller power module applications.

China Electric targets 40% lighting market share with retail push

Kevin Wang — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:50:43 GMT

China Electric, which sells lighting products under the TOA brand, is aiming for a 2026 turnaround by reversing second-quarter losses, activating assets, and leasing existing factories, while also expanding into retail channels and contract manufacturing in the second half of the year.

Handheld device makers shift from scanners to edge AI field hubs

Levi Li — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:49:47 GMT

AI and smart applications are pushing handheld devices beyond barcode scanning and data entry, transforming them into intelligent terminals that combine edge computing, cloud management and vertical applications.

Exclusive: Penang moves up value chain; Galatek flags deep-tech, IP hurdles

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:49:33 GMT

Penang has played a critical role in the global semiconductor back-end industry for decades, particularly in assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP). The region has built a highly competitive industrial base and, amid supply chain diversification and geopolitical shifts, has recently attracted record levels of investment.

Interview: MicroLED and SiPh eye 3.2T AI data race

Charlene Chen — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:49:17 GMT

The AI wave is rapidly reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain, and that upheaval is opening a new growth chapter for Taiwan's LED industry. As Taiwan's LED makers move away from the price wars of the consumer market, Nvidia's push to upgrade AI transmission standards to 1.6T, 3.2T, and beyond is exposing the physical limits of copper wiring, making scale-up the first battlefield in the competition between photons and electrons. Micro LED's high bandwidth and heat resistance position it as a key technology for the 3.2T-plus optical communications era.

Exclusive: Galatek sees Penang facility driving semiconductor, life sciences ecosystem growth

Scarlett Yu — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:48:32 GMT

Beyond its established role in assembly, testing and packaging (ATP), Penang's next stage of development will depend on its ability to deepen capabilities in precision engineering, automation and system integration, while moving into higher-value equipment manufacturing and R&D. Following the opening of Galatek's new facility in Penang, Malaysia, DIGITIMES spoke with Galatek Malaysia general manager Teo Swee Leng about the region's current development and future prospects.

UC San Diego researchers turn retired Pixel phones into low-cost computing cluster

Jingyue Hsiao — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:48:12 GMT

Backed by Google, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, are repurposing retired Pixel phones into a computing cluster that could lower costs and cut e-waste. The project matters far beyond one campus, as it points to a possible model for affordable, local cloud infrastructure that could interest schools and smaller organizations worldwide.

Commentary: US delays DeepSeek blacklist, exposing AI export-control dilemma

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:11:44 GMT

The US has held back from adding Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, memory chipmaker CXMT, and more than 100 other entities to a key trade blacklist, underscoring Washington's struggle to balance national security controls with a broader effort to contain tensions with Beijing.

US AI export crackdown on Anthropic sparks global push for sovereign AI

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:52:23 GMT

A letter dated June 12 from US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei marked the most aggressive federal regulatory intervention targeting a leading generative AI firm to date, as Bloomberg confirmed.

Nvidia Vera CPU strains LPDDR supply as AI servers tap phone memory

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:51:56 GMT

Nvidia is expected to surpass Apple and Samsung Electronics' mobile division to become the world's top buyer of LPDDR, as AI servers and AI PCs pull low-power memory beyond smartphones, MoneyToday reported, citing electronics industry sources.

Snap unveils Specs AR glasses as AI wearables market expands

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:51:01 GMT

Snap unveiled its new Specs augmented reality (AR) glasses at the Augmented World Expo on June 16. Its offering comes at a time when electronics and AI companies are delving into the competitive smart wearables market, with some at very affordable price points.

Samsung, SK Hynix suppliers seek war-cost payback after US-Iran shock drains chip materials inventory

Levi Li — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:49:24 GMT

Semiconductor materials suppliers are moving to rebuild depleted inventories and recover sharply higher costs from Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and other memory chip customers after the 106-day US-Iran war strained supply chains for precursors, specialty gases and other key chipmaking inputs.

Chip supply chains shift: TSMC's capacity crunch reportedly pushes Google, Tesla, BYD toward Samsung

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:44:23 GMT

Global chip buyers, including BYD, Google, AMD, and Tesla, are turning to Samsung Electronics as TSMC's advanced production lines remain fully booked, Nikkei Asia reported. The shift underscores how AI demand and supply-chain risk are reshaping where cutting-edge chips are made.

BOE starts production at China's first 8.6G AMOLED line

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:27:40 GMT

BOE Technology Group has begun mass production at its Chengdu high-tech zone facility, a move that could reshape the supply of OLED displays for notebooks and tablets, while intensifying competition in a market where manufacturers across Asia are racing to expand higher-generation panel capacity for global electronics buyers.

WinWay buys California property to support US expansion in AI and HPC

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:24:14 GMT

WinWay Technologies has bought real estate in California for US$2.28 million to create a local manufacturing and office base, a move that underscores how Asian suppliers are expanding closer to US customers as demand rises for AI, high-performance computing, and chip testing services worldwide.

Inside DeepSeek's US$7.4 billion funding raise: China's AI champion keeps investors close and control closer

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:18:23 GMT

Chinese AI lab DeepSeek has closed its first external funding round, raising more than CNY50 billion (approx. US$7.4 billion) in a deal that values the large-language model developer at more than US$50 billion and makes it China's most valuable AI startup.

WFE Technology to transform into holding company, eyeing smart building growth

Rodney Chan — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:05:32 GMT

Electronic components distributor WFE Technology has launched a transformation plan to become an investment holding company. The company said smart building demand is boosting its electronic lock business, while AI-driven component demand is lengthening lead times.

Bull and Foxconn to build Nvidia's latest AI servers in Europe

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 06:00:46 GMT

Bull, the French computing company, and Foxconn announced Tuesday that they will manufacture systems based on Nvidia's Vera Rubin NVL72 platform in Europe — the first concrete output of a partnership the two companies unveiled just two weeks ago.

Tong Yang sees steadier auto parts demand as tariff and conflict risks ease

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:38:15 GMT

Tong Yang Group said global auto parts demand could stabilize in the second half of 2026 as tariff uncertainty eases and Middle East tensions cool, a shift that may help restore order timing and support suppliers tied to export markets, including readers tracking broader automotive and manufacturing trends worldwide.

Ta Tun Electric Wire and Cable opens Arizona office to target US chip and AI demand

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:35:18 GMT

Ta Tun Electric Wire and Cable is expanding into North America as semiconductor factories and AI data centers drive stronger demand for high-capacity power infrastructure worldwide. The company said its Arizona office and US certification push are meant to support chipmakers, cloud operators, and the broader energy needs of advanced computing facilities.

Li Auto's new automotive chip and what it says about China's EV market

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:34:01 GMT

Li Auto announced details of its new Mach M100 chip, a self-developed 5nm chip focused on autonomous driving, on June 15. This development marks the latest entry among Chinese automakers into designing in-house chips as they compete on cost and smart-driving features.

Shihlin Electric plans North America-focused plant as five business lines drive double-digit growth

DIGITIMES — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:32:10 GMT

Shihlin Electric said on June 17 that it expected double-digit revenue and profit growth for 2026, driven by momentum across five business lines: Taiwan Power grid resilience projects, energy transition initiatives, the AI data center supply chain, turnkey transportation and public works, and exports. Executives at the shareholders' meeting announced that a rising export mix should reduce seasonality between the first and second halves of the year.