DIGITIMES: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Analysis: Elon Musk's Terafab chases 10 chip iterations a year — can it rival TSMC?

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:57:30 GMT

Speaking to more than 2,000 Tesla owners and investors at the X Takeover event held at Tesla's Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, on October 11, Elon Musk made a candid admission: "To be clear, I don't know how to make chips." He immediately followed it with a declaration: "We'll figure it out."

Onsemi and Sungrow deepen battery storage tie-up as demand rises for grid power

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:55:00 GMT

Onsemi has said its latest EliteSiC hybrid power module is now being used in Sungrow's PowerTitan 3.0 energy storage platform, a move aimed at improving efficiency, power density, and reliability in utility-scale battery systems. For global power markets, the deal highlights how small gains in conversion efficiency are becoming more important as AI, electrification, and renewable energy drive electricity demand higher.

Taiwanese chipmaker TASC targets 2027 growth with InP optical chips, glucose sensors nearing mass production

Levi Li — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:48:11 GMT

Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor Corporation (TASC) is benefiting from seasonal demand for sensing chips and new wearable launches by major US and European brands. AI server expansion has also lifted orders for passive and protection components, while its indium phosphide (InP) optical communication chips have entered customer validation. TASC remains cautiously optimistic about 2027.

Premium PC demand fuels tandem OLED race between Samsung Display, LG Display

Levi Li — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:45:00 GMT

Competition in the global PC market is shifting from a focus on shipment volumes of low-cost models towards premium, high-performance devices, intensifying the race in OLED display technology. Tandem OLED, which combines higher brightness, longer lifespan, and lower power consumption, is emerging as a key technology for premium PCs, sharpening competition between South Korea's two leading panel makers, Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD).

US urges chipmakers to use domestic capacity as CHIPS Act strategy shifts from fab subsidies to securing orders

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:44:41 GMT

Bill Frauenhofer, executive director of semiconductor investment and innovation at the US Department of Commerce, joined Entegris CEO David Reeder for a fireside chat at SEMICON West 2026, outlining the latest developments in the US-Taiwan US$500 billion investment agreement and calling on corporate executives and boards to prioritize American semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

Taiwan urged to recruit more from overseas to address talent shortage

Rodney Chan — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:43:23 GMT

Pegatron chairman T.H. Tung and Topco Scientific founder J.W. Kuo called for Taiwan to recruit talent from overseas as the country faces intensifying industrial challenges. Speaking at a forum organized by the Global Views-Commonwealth Publishing Group on October 14, the two said talent shortages are more urgent than water or power shortages and urged companies to combine overseas hiring with AI and automation.

Vietnam's FPT courts Toyota Tsusho unit to sell its power chips in Southeast Asia, India

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:37:37 GMT

Vietnamese technology group FPT is lining up a second Japanese distribution channel for its in-house power chips, a move that would carry Vietnamese-designed semiconductors beyond Japan and into Southeast Asian and Indian markets through a Toyota Group trading network.

ASML holds back 2029-2030 orders and confirms first price increases as EUV shortage deepens

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:32:49 GMT

ASML, the sole supplier of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools, has shifted from taking orders to allocating them. On its third-quarter 2026 earnings call on October 14, the Dutch company said customers want to place orders as far out as 2029 and 2030, but that it will not accept them until it has weighed total demand against its own capacity. It also confirmed, for the first time, that customers have agreed to pay more for its most critical machines.

Apple hits historic $5 trillion valuation, defying market headwinds in China

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:31:22 GMT

Apple reached a historic financial milestone by closing above a US$5 trillion market capitalization for the first time, ending the trading session at US$5.005 trillion (US$342.96 per share). Driven by investor optimism surrounding its hardware ecosystem, Apple joins Nvidia in this elite valuation territory.

StarSeeds, Kaga Electronics target December 2026 AI server production in Japan

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:30:00 GMT

Kaga Electronics and AI infrastructure provider StarSeeds have signed a basic contract manufacturing agreement to produce AI servers at a partner facility in Japan, targeting mass production in December 2026.

AI chip complexity is widening opportunities for semiconductor equipment makers

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:26:49 GMT

AI chips are becoming harder to build, but that complexity is also creating new opportunities for semiconductor equipment suppliers. Applied Materials says rising transistor counts, denser interconnects, and more advanced memory architectures are expanding demand across logic, DRAM, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) manufacturing.

Applied Materials targets US$5 billion advanced packaging revenue

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:23:47 GMT

Applied Materials sees advanced packaging as a key growth lever as AI chips move to multi-die designs, with the company projecting more than US$5 billion in related revenue in the coming years. The forecast underscores how hybrid bonding, metrology, and services are becoming central to competition in semiconductor equipment.

South Korea's Hanwool wins Delta Electronics MLCC inspection equipment order, breaking Japanese dominance

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:17:17 GMT

South Korean inspection equipment manufacturer Hanwool Semiconductor has secured an order to supply ultrasonic inspection equipment for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) to a subsidiary of Taiwan's Delta Electronics Group.

IBM, MeitY Startup Hub sign pact to boost India's deep tech startups

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:12:25 GMT

IBM and MeitY Startup Hub, an initiative of India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support India's deep tech startups with enterprise technology, mentorship, and market access. The deal could help founders build products for domestic needs while also improving their chances of scaling into global markets and ecosystems.

ASML hints at new 'T'-titled customer for 2029-2030 as Musk's Terafab lines up EUV tools

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:09:45 GMT

ASML has signaled that a new customer whose name may begin with "T" is among the chipmakers seeking lithography tools for 2029 and 2030.

BYD targets 40,000 European employees by 2030

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:07:24 GMT

BYD plans to launch a large-scale hiring drive in Europe, aiming to increase its local workforce to about 40,000 by 2030 as it seeks to become a leading automaker in the region. Stella Li, BYD's executive vice president for overseas operations, told Bloomberg Television at the Paris Motor Show on October 12 that the company's commitment to Europe is firm and long term.

Semiconductors to consume 30% of Taiwan's power by 2035

Charlene Chen — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 02:03:40 GMT

Rising demand for semiconductor wafer fabrication, memory, advanced packaging and high-end servers is driving a sharp increase in Taiwan's power consumption. Taipower estimates that the domestic semiconductor industry will consume approximately 52 billion kWh in 2026, rising to around 80 billion kWh in 2030 and 110 billion kWh in 2035, when it will account for about 30% of Taiwan's total electricity use.

Nvidia showcases French AI deployments from orbit to quantum ahead of GTC Berlin

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:59:00 GMT

France's artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem is putting agentic computing into production on Nvidia hardware and open models, according to an Nvidia blog post published on October 12, 2026, listing projects spanning satellites, public-sector software, banking, cosmetics research, and quantum computing.

ProLogium targets AI data centers, aviation with solid-state batteries

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:55:25 GMT

ProLogium Technology is accelerating the development of non-automotive markets for its all-solid-state batteries, targeting AI data centers, aviation, and humanoid robots as electric vehicle (EV) market growth slows, according to Nikkei Asia.

Yuan Jen targets semiconductor shift with focus on packaging, specialty wire materials

Yunnie Cheng — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:54:20 GMT

Chemical and solvent distributor Yuan Jen Enterprises is actively expanding its electronic materials business. Company chairman Yuan-Jen Hsu stated that Yuan Jen established a dedicated Electronic Materials Division in September 2025 to focus on semiconductor peripheral materials. Alongside its existing portfolio of electronic-grade hydrogen peroxide, electronic-grade isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and acetone, the company is actively seeking opportunities in next-generation semiconductor materials, prioritizing advanced packaging and specialty wiring materials as its main growth vectors.

Auden expects stronger growth in 2027, sees satellite industry taking another 2–3 years to gain momentum

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:53:54 GMT

RF antenna and communications technology company Auden Techno recently inaugurated its global headquarters and R&D center in Bade, Taoyuan. Chairman Chang Yu-Pin said the company's growth in 2026 will continue to be driven primarily by antenna modules and testing instruments for NB and bioelectromagnetic applications.

Each 1% tariff hike could add US$3.5B to US fab costs, SIA warns

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:53:43 GMT

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) urged the Trump administration to reduce tariffs on imported semiconductor materials and equipment, warning that higher costs could undermine US fab investments. In a report and accompanying briefing, the group also called for stronger supply-chain cooperation with allied countries because domestic production currently supplies only 21% of the materials and equipment used by the US semiconductor industry.

United Renewable Energy targets 2x US revenue by 2027 as solar module prices double

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:52:10 GMT

Amid the global energy transition, localized supply chains, and rising demand for non-China supply chains, United Renewable Energy is working with Sino-American Silicon Products to accelerate its market expansion in Taiwan and overseas. CEO Richard Chang said the company will build on Taiwan's stable rooftop solar market while ramping up its planned 1,000MW US module plant, targeting a doubling of US revenue by 2027.

Nvidia pledges US$250M in AI safety research to UK, CEO defends industry's approach

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:41:11 GMT

Nvidia will provide the UK with US$250 million worth of computing resources over five years to support AI safety research, as CEO Jensen Huang defended the industry's ability to manage risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.

Korean memory makers accept ASML parts price hike, leaving TSMC as the open question

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:38:20 GMT

Memory chipmakers have become the fastest-growing source of demand for ASML, and the two largest of them have reportedly accepted higher replacement-part prices from the Dutch company. Attention now turns to TSMC, ASML's largest customer and, according to earlier reports, an opponent of price increases, as the lithography supplier prepares to charge more for its most critical tools.

Samsung, SK Hynix stand to benefit as humanoid robot DRAM demand is forecast to jump 20-fold by 2030

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:34:10 GMT

Global DRAM demand for humanoid robots is projected to increase more than 20-fold by 2030 as robot deployments expand and memory capacity per unit doubles, potentially opening a new growth market for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix beyond high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI data centers.

Nvidia's Rubin expected to use mostly 12-layer HBM4 despite reported 8-layer shift

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:32:09 GMT

Nvidia's next-generation Rubin AI accelerators are expected to rely predominantly on 12-layer HBM4 high-bandwidth memory, despite reports that the chipmaker has asked Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to increase supplies of 8-layer products. The differing assessments suggest that changes in memory configurations do not necessarily signal weaker HBM demand, as manufacturing constraints and supply shortages are expected to support memory prices in 2027.

Energy Taiwan 2026: Delta unveils breakthrough SST-based DC power system and SOFC solution

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:31:25 GMT

Delta, a global leader in power management and smart green solutions, unveiled its comprehensive microgrid and power infrastructure solutions for AI factories and high-density computing at Energy Taiwan 2026 under the theme "Resilient Energy, Powering the AI Future." Marking its 55th anniversary, the company debuted the world's first physical, production-ready containerized Solid-State Transformer (SST)-based DC power system alongside its Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) distributed generation system.

Changing iPhone 18 Pro supplier orders show shift to higher-end models

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:19:33 GMT

Conflicting signals have emerged regarding the production of Apple's newest iPhone models, particularly the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Media reports on the volume changes appear to reflect an entrenchment of the company's premium segment during a year of rising component costs and sliding smartphone sales across the sector.

Taiwan’s second-generation leaders rebuild family firms, from semiconductor filters to sushi

Rodney Chan — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 01:04:17 GMT

First-generation Taiwanese entrepreneurs are retiring or leaving their businesses, driving a clear rise in second- and third-generation succession in recent years. At Chimei, for example, Chia-Chang Shi has become chairman of the company his father, Wen-Long Shi, had founded. Similar transitions are becoming increasingly common among small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

GlobalFoundries wins US$21 billion US-Japan deal to build, operate two New York fabs

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:58:29 GMT

GlobalFoundries' selection to run two Japan-funded chip plants in New York tests a new way of paying for American fabs: governments own the factory and its tools, and the chipmaker is paid to build and run it. For GlobalFoundries, the arrangement adds capacity without the capital bill. For Japan, it turns part of its US$550 billion US investment pledge into supply for Japanese chipmakers and work for Japanese toolmakers. For Taiwan's mature-node foundries, it puts a large, state-backed source of capacity on US soil in the segment where they have been tipped to gain from customers' supply-chain diversification.

Lite-On unveils 800 VDC power and liquid cooling for AI data centers

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:15:23 GMT

Lite-On Technology is showcasing an 800 VDC power architecture, NVIDIA Vera Rubin-compatible power racks and integrated liquid-cooling systems at the 2026 Open Compute Project (OCP) Global Summit. The portfolio is designed to help data-center operators improve power efficiency, manage rising AI rack densities and integrate backup power with thermal management.

Commentary: AI power demand pushes Taiwan's energy industry toward integrated systems

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:15:01 GMT

Energy Taiwan 2026 showcases an energy industry increasingly focused on integration, flexibility, and real-world deployment, as Taiwan balances its net-zero ambitions with rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing, and advanced manufacturing.

AI server tracker: Rail-kit growth turns uneven as cooling suppliers sustain expansion

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:14:19 GMT

Taiwan's rail-kit and thermal suppliers posted broad year-over-year revenue growth in September 2026, but sequential performance revealed uneven shipment schedules. All eight tracked companies grew both monthly and January–September revenue from a year earlier, while four recorded declines from August. The results suggest that platform transitions and component availability continue to influence how AI infrastructure demand translates into revenue.

Applied Materials tracks 100-plus fabs as cleanroom capacity limits equipment growth

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:13:54 GMT

Applied Materials tracked more than 100 wafer fabrication projects worldwide over the past two quarters as strong artificial intelligence demand continued to meet constraints in cleanroom construction and supply chain capacity. The company added more than 10 projects in each quarter, indicating that global fab development and future cleanroom availability were still expanding.

Applied Materials targets AI-driven semiconductor equipment growth through 2030

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:13:28 GMT

Applied Materials is increasing investments in research and development, manufacturing and its global supply chain as it targets greater market share and profitability through 2030. The semiconductor equipment maker expects advanced logic, DRAM and advanced packaging to generate about 75% of wafer fab equipment (WFE) market growth from 2025 to 2030. By 2030, it is also targeting more than 2pp of additional WFE market share, along with non-GAAP gross and operating margins of approximately 54% and 40%, respectively.

Fujifilm to expand Arizona semiconductor materials output

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:12:59 GMT

Fujifilm is expanding semiconductor materials production in Arizona as global chip demand rises, especially for artificial intelligence, advanced logic, and memory. The move aims to strengthen supply for makers in the US and beyond, while supporting new packaging technologies and faster commercialization worldwide.

HiSilicon expands DDI push across all display sizes

Yunnie Cheng — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:12:41 GMT

Huawei subsidiary HiSilicon is actively expanding its display chip footprint, with its display driver IC (DDIC) development once again capturing market attention. Kun Luo, CEO of HiSilicon Display, recently disclosed key milestones for its DDR-free display solution. Developed through co-optimization across chip architectures, panel designs, and algorithms, the solution increased panel effective light-transmission area by nearly 25%, enabling two collaborative products to reach million-unit shipments a year ahead of schedule.

Pegatron chair opposes Taipei airport relocation for AI park, proposes alternative

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:12:21 GMT

Pegatron Chairman Tung Tzu-Hsien expressed opposition to a proposal to relocate Taipei Songshan Airport and redevelop the site into an AI industrial park, arguing that major capital cities should retain smaller airports to support regional air travel and business connectivity.

UMC declines expedited Samsung order for Galaxy Z Fold8; GF eyed as backup DDI foundry

Yunnie Cheng — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:11:57 GMT

Following stronger-than-expected demand for its Galaxy Z Fold8, Samsung Electronics submitted an expedited wafer production request to United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) that was ultimately turned down. As a result, Samsung scaled back its September 2026 component production volume by 10%. Amid persistent capacity tightness at mature process nodes, Samsung is now evaluating GlobalFoundries (GF) as a secondary foundry partner for its OLED smartphone DDIs, with potential adoption set for late 2027 at the earliest.

SEMI sees glass substrates entering market by 2028

Lily Hess — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:11:32 GMT

The rapid expansion of AI and data center chip package sizes is accelerating the adoption of glass substrates, with SEMI's Beth Keser now forecasting market entry around 2028, two years earlier than she previously expected. Beth Keser, SEMI's vice president of technology coalitions, said package dimensions are growing too quickly for the industry to wait until around 2030, her earlier forecast.

Taiwan solar manufacturers turn to US market as domestic approvals stall, low-cost imports intensify

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:10:56 GMT

Taiwan's solar manufacturers are increasingly looking to the US market as slowing approvals for large-scale domestic solar projects, limited rooftop installation capacity, and competition from low-cost imports threaten the industry's long-term prospects.

Topco eyes Idaho base as North American chip expansion accelerates

Lily Hess — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:10:13 GMT

Topco Scientific (TSC) is evaluating a new base in Boise, Idaho, as the US enters a fresh wave of chip manufacturing expansion and Micron ramps up advanced memory investment. The company already operates service bases in Phoenix, Arizona, and Dallas, Texas, and plans to strengthen its local technology, engineering, and supply chain capabilities to pursue memory and advanced-process opportunities.

US solar import price floor faces four challenges as December deadline approaches

Scarlett Yu — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:08:12 GMT

The US is seeking to improve the competitiveness of domestic solar manufacturers and attract overseas investment through minimum import price requirements for solar products. However, supply chain sources cautioned that frequent changes in US policies and regulations could complicate implementation.

Taiwan suppliers target OCP power, cooling, 1.6T integration

Lily Hess — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:07:27 GMT

The Open Compute Project (OCP) Global Summit 2026 recently took place in San Jose, California, as Taiwan suppliers joined the global AI infrastructure race with offerings spanning power systems, servers, connectors, networking, and optical communications. The event highlighted a shift from standalone server performance to integrated systems focused on 800VDC power, liquid cooling, and 1.6T networking.

Hiroca sees overseas revenue share top 50%, eyes strong pull-in momentum for 4Q26

Kevin Wang — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:06:42 GMT

Automotive parts supplier Hiroca saw an increase in overseas contributions for the first three quarters of 2026, with international markets accounting for more than 50% of the company's revenue during the period, up from the roughly 45% in the same period of 2025. This offset weakness in the auto industry resulting from the traditional third-quarter off-peak season, as well as a volatile baseline for September. The company continues to expand operations in Dongguan, China, and its overseas bases in North America, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea, which will bring sustained mid- to long-term growth momentum. Moreover, the company expects performance in the second half of 2026 to outpace the first half, as automakers ramp up orders for the traditional peak season in the fourth quarter.

Sluggish demand keeps smartphone panel prices under pressure

Yunnie Cheng — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:06:14 GMT

As the fourth quarter begins, smartphone panel demand remains sluggish, with purchasing momentum from end-market brands showing no clear signs of recovery. Market activity throughout October remains at a low ebb.

Murata eyes earlier MLCC expansion as AI server demand surges

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:05:49 GMT

Murata Manufacturing is considering additional investment and an earlier expansion of multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) capacity as demand from AI servers accelerates. The company plans to finalize the investment amount, expansion sites, and schedule before releasing its midterm financial results in late October.

Dell CEO urges AI growth without sacrificing safety

DIGITIMES — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:03:39 GMT

As AI investment continues to expand, concerns are mounting over whether capital spending can translate into real revenue and whether data center construction is becoming excessive. Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell said AI development should not hit the brakes over safety disputes or bubble concerns, arguing that businesses and governments should build safeguards together while managing risks and maintaining technological competitiveness.

Yulon Nissan sees Taiwan auto market holding at 420,000 units through 2027 amid EV, import growth

Willis Ke — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:02:12 GMT

Yulon Nissan Motor president Chen-hsiang Yao expects Taiwan's auto market to remain at approximately 420,000 vehicles in 2026, excluding heavy vehicles, supported by growing demand for luxury cars and new energy vehicles (NEVs). While market saturation and shifting consumer preferences pose challenges, a potential resolution of US tariff issues could provide additional momentum.

Star Asia Vision targets digital out-of-home market with new products, Nichia partnership

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:26 GMT

Star Asia Vision (SAVC), a display and systems integrator under Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor, is focusing on growth in the digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising market by expanding software-hardware integration and high-end customization, while deepening its strategic partnership with global LED materials leader Nichia. The company is optimistic about growth momentum across its three main product lines and expects project expansions in 2027 to drive operating growth.

Energy Taiwan 2026 opens with record international participation

DIGITIMES — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:59:00 GMT

Energy Taiwan 2026 opened on October 14, bringing together more than 430 exhibitors across nearly 1,400 booths as the island seeks to strengthen energy resilience and accelerate decarbonization amid rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI).