DIGITIMES Asia: News and Insight of the Global Supply Chain

Meta's Manus deal further exacerbates Chinese startups' exodus to Singapore and US

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:46:20 GMT

The US$2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus by Meta Platforms has sent shockwaves through the Chinese tech ecosystem, exposing the fragility of the "Singapore-washing" strategy that many founders once relied on to sidestep geopolitical crossfires. The deal, which was finalized in early 2026, triggered an aggressive response from Beijing, forcing a sweeping reallocation of resources among startups operating in the gray zone between Chinese origins and global ambitions.

Interview: Semidynamics expands from SoC to rack-level solutions, targeting memory-intensive AI inference

Emily Kuo — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:45:43 GMT

Spain-based AI chip startup Semidynamics has recently seen a wave of positive developments. Its first chip, fabricated on TSMC's 3nm process, has successfully completed tape-out, and just weeks ago, the company secured an investment commitment from SK Hynix. Both significantly enhance its operational credibility and global visibility. CEO Roger Espasa stated that the company's proprietary Gazzillion technology is a specialized memory subsystem designed to address one of AI's most pressing challenges today: inefficient memory utilization, which has led to persistent supply constraints.

Visionox starts 8.6G AMOLED tool install, pushes FMM-free OLED

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:45:24 GMT

China-based display maker Visionox is stepping up its push into next-generation AMOLED manufacturing, announcing on April 15 a key milestone at its 8.6-generation production line in Hefei. The first lithography system has been moved into the main cleanroom, marking a transition from construction to equipment installation and process integration, and laying the groundwork for initial panel output and mass production.

SK Hynix invests in RISC-V chip designer Semidynamics

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:44:52 GMT

SK Hynix has invested in Semidynamics, a Spanish fabless chip designer, as part of a push to expand its presence in the artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor ecosystem.

Musk's foundry push forces chipmakers to rethink customer relationships

Elaine Chen — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:44:00 GMT

Elon Musk has said that the computing demands of Tesla, xAI, and SpaceX will far exceed current semiconductor supply capacity, arguing that existing production can meet only a fraction of future needs.

Taiwan's TPK profit jumps more than 20-fold on investment gains and chip exposure

Elaine Chen — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:43:22 GMT

TPK Holding reported a sharp rebound in profitability for the first quarter of 2026, driven by new semiconductor investments and favorable one-off gains.

With chip limits near, focus shifts to packaging and integration

Elaine Chen — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:42:54 GMT

As the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) pushes semiconductor performance toward new limits, the industry is confronting a fundamental constraint: the slowing of Moore's Law. Increasingly, engineers are turning their attention not just to chip design, but to system integration and advanced packaging, areas now seen as critical to sustaining performance gains.

Taiwan paves the way for stablecoin adoption as landmark law advances amid global trends

Willis Ke — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:42:08 GMT

Taiwan is edging closer to a regulated stablecoin ecosystem, with policymakers signaling support for fiat-linked digital assets and advancing landmark legislation that could reshape the island's virtual asset industry.

EU Chips Act 2.0 expected by late May, with stronger domestic focus

Emily Kuo — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:41:47 GMT

Since early 2025, the European Union (EU) has been actively shaping its next-generation semiconductor strategy. Recent reports indicate that the EU Chips Act 2.0 is set to be officially announced on May 27. During the drafting process, the Catalonia regional government in Spain, along with industry stakeholders, has contributed several recommendations.

Taiwan and Japan solidify lead in transmission component market for humanoid robots

Kevin Wang — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:41:27 GMT

The rise of new hardware designs for humanoid robots has created fresh opportunities across the supply chain, with linear actuators — which act as the muscles of robots that mimic human anatomy — now becoming key components in this evolution. Amid the ongoing reshuffling in the transmission component supply chain, the consensus among industry players is that Taiwanese and Japanese manufacturers are unlikely to yield their longtime dominant position in the field.

J&V Energy Technology's Greenet to list on OTC in May 2026 as it pursues rapid capacity expansion

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:40:42 GMT

J&V Energy Technology's Greenet plans to list on the OTC market in May 2026 and is fully booked, signaling a rapid global push into green power as it seeks to scale to 800-850 MW by the end of 2026, secure long-term contracts, and compete in a future 40 billion kWh market.

TSMC hints at next-gen LPU bid, stokes speculation that Samsung's Groq order may not last

Joseph(C) Chen — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:21:27 GMT

TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei disclosed at the company's first-quarter 2026 earnings call that the foundry is collaborating with a customer on next-generation LPU development —a remark that stopped short of naming Nvidia— but that supply chain observers widely read as signaling TSMC's intent to compete for the inference chip business currently manufactured by Samsung.

TSMC enters 2nm mass production, scales 3nm capacity

Sherri Wang — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:46:55 GMT

TSMC laid out its capacity expansion plans and advanced node progress at its first quarter 2026 earnings call. Chairman C.C. Wei reaffirmed Taiwan as the primary base for leading-edge production, citing close coordination with its research and development teams.

Thunder Tiger eyes LUCAS market with low-cost loitering drone

Sherri Wang — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:38:02 GMT

Taiwanese drone manufacturer Thunder Tiger Group is developing a domestic version of the Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, modeled on systems deployed by the US in recent conflicts, as it seeks to build a cost advantage through manufacturing scale.

Yageo posts 40% YoY profit rise in 1Q26, driven by AI demand, price hikes

Eifeh Strom — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:34:29 GMT

Passive component manufacturer Yageo held its first-quarter 2026 online earnings call on April 15, reporting strong financial results. Company CEO David Wang said that robust demand from applications related to artificial intelligence (AI) boosted sales of both standard and specialty products. Combined with the gradual impact of price increases, this drove significant growth in revenue and profits for the quarter, exceeding previous projections.

China smartphone market shifts to premium, Huawei and Apple lead in 1Q26

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:33:30 GMT

China's smartphone market contracted in the first quarter of 2026, but stronger-than-expected demand for premium devices from Huawei and Apple helped cushion the decline and reshape industry priorities.

TSMC guides over 15% 2Q26 revenue growth, N3 margins set to top average

Levi Li — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:31:36 GMT

TSMC posted a record profit of NT$572.48 billion (US$18.06 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, marking another high in overall performance. For the second quarter of 2026, TSMC guided revenue between US$39 billion and US$42 billion, up 8.6% to 17% sequentially, or NT$1.236 trillion to NT$1.331 trillion at NT$31.7 per US dollar. Gross margin is forecast at 65.5%–67.5%, with operating margin at 56.5%–58.5%.

Taiwan analog IC firms show varied 1Q26 revenue; motor control and DDR5 PMIC drive growth

Charlene Chen — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:28:11 GMT

Taiwanese analog IC companies have recently released their full revenue figures for the first quarter of 2026, revealing mixed performances. Firms with rapidly growing new businesses or market share generally posted strong quarterly results.

MCU demand pull-in lifts first-quarter sales, inflation risk clouds outlook

Levi Li — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:18:35 GMT

The traditional off-season for consumer electronics showed unexpected strength in the first quarter of 2026, with microcontroller (MCU) suppliers reporting a wave of early orders. Customers, facing rising costs and sharp increases in memory prices, have accelerated procurement due to concerns over future supply shortages. This front-loading of demand has effectively brought forward the peak season. Still, industry players caution that inflationary pressure linked to ongoing Middle East conflicts could weigh on end-market demand.

Global Expansion of 2.5D/3D Packaging: Strategic Moves in the US, Asia, and Beyond

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:17:48 GMT

Major OSAT providers accelerate 2.5D/3D advanced packaging deployments in US, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia with non-Taiwan capacity footprint to expand.

EZconn posts 200% profit surge in March as high-fiber count shipments boost growth

Charlene Chen — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:12:52 GMT

Optical communication manufacturer EZconn announced a net profit after tax of NT$312 million (US$9.9 million) for March 2026, marking a 200% increase year on year and earnings per share (EPS) of NT$4.02. Including the previously reported January and February EPS of NT$2.3, the cumulative EPS for the first quarter of 2026 has reached NT$6.32.

China tightens rules against foreign supply chain decoupling

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:02:39 GMT

The Chinese government has introduced sweeping regulations that authorize investigations and penalties against foreign companies that decouple from China's supply chain. The new rules arrive as global supply chains face mounting geopolitical pressure and China's export surplus continues to grow.

Samsung pushes HBM4 yields as advanced testing and cutting technologies emerge

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:50:55 GMT

Samsung Electronics is accelerating efforts to improve yields for its sixth-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM4), as it seeks to narrow the gap with market leader SK hynix. According to Chosun Biz, yields for Samsung's latest 10nm-class 1c DRAM have surpassed the industry's "mature yield" threshold of around 80%, indicating meaningful progress at the wafer level.

Genomics BioSci & Tech bets on AI to unlock gene-based longevity

Rodney Chan — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:36:57 GMT

Genomics BioSci & Tech, Taiwan's largest commercial genomic sequencing company, is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to decode the secrets of aging and disease. Company founder and chairman Joseph Chow emphasized that each genome is a unique code containing the mysteries of life and death, with breakthroughs in identifying key genes potentially enabling "immortality." AI integration promises transformative progress in this field.

TSMC lifts full-year outlook above 30% as AI demand powers another record quarter

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:22:05 GMT

Fresh off a quarter in which it beat its own margin forecasts by a wide margin, TSMC issued second-quarter guidance that signals the AI-driven chip boom is accelerating rather than plateauing. The world's largest contract chipmaker projected a second quarter 2026 revenue of US$39-40.2 billion, which at the midpoint would represent roughly 9% sequential growth from the US$35.90 billion it just reported — and more than 50% above where it stood a year ago.

Kbro enters 10G era with NT$10 billion investment, advocates heterogeneous network backup to replace price wars

Willis Ke — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:58:26 GMT

Taiwan's Kbro Broadband on April 15 unveiled its next-generation 10G broadband service, backed by a planned NT$10 billion (approx. US$316.45 million) investment to upgrade network infrastructure nationwide, marking a decisive step into the 10G era and a strategic push to reposition cable networks at the core of Taiwan's digital resilience.

TSMC 1Q26 earnings: AI demand sends profit up 58%, gross margin to all-time high

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:46:47 GMT

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported a first-quarter 2026 revenue of US$35.90 billion, a 40.6% jump from a year earlier, as insatiable demand for artificial intelligence (AI) processors pushed the world's largest contract chipmaker to its highest-ever gross margin.

Rising component costs could shrink smartphone shipments by over 10% in 2026

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:43:36 GMT

Rising upstream component costs and higher new-phone prices are expected to slow global smartphone shipments in 2026, fueling stronger demand for used devices internationally and prompting companies to bolster secondhand operations; at the same time, uncertainty from the US‑Iran conflict threatens shipping routes and could disrupt supply flows through Dubai.

China's homegrown GPU startups gain ground in global AI chip race

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:30:46 GMT

China's domestic GPU industry is entering a new phase of rapid commercialization, as leading startups post strong revenue growth while intensifying investment in research, patents, and ecosystem development.

Tesla AI5 tape-out signals dual sourcing with Samsung, TSMC

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:17:53 GMT

Tesla has finalized the design of its next-generation AI5 chip, marking a milestone in its in-house semiconductor development. CEO Elon Musk confirmed the tape-out in a post on X, saying the design has been sent to foundry partners for fabrication. Musk also said Tesla is developing follow-on processors, including AI6 and Dojo3.

Cadence, Nvidia deepen AI partnership to reshape chip design and robotics

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:11:24 GMT

Cadence Design Systems and Nvidia have expanded their partnership to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across semiconductor design, robotics, and large-scale AI infrastructure, the companies said at CadenceLIVE Silicon Valley 2026. The collaboration aims to combine Cadence's electronic design automation (EDA) software with Nvidia's accelerated computing and AI platforms to improve engineering productivity and reduce development cycles.

Samsung System LSI talent exits raise risks for Exynos and image sensors

DIGITIMES — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:02:13 GMT

A wave of departures among core engineers at Samsung Electronics' System LSI division is raising concerns over a potential leadership gap at its non-memory chip unit, particularly in areas tied to Exynos processors and ISOCELL image sensors.

Mobile manufacturers adapt to soaring key component prices with strategic measures

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:57:51 GMT

Memory and component cost surges may curb global phone sales growth in 2026, prompting firms worldwide to adjust prices, marketing, and retail approaches to protect margins. Brands and channel operators are repositioning products, expanding premium offerings, and boosting AI-focused retail education to counter tighter supply, higher costs, and shifting consumer demand.

Memory suppliers post record 1Q26 revenue as AI demand defies seasonal slowdown

Sherri Wang — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:57:15 GMT

The global memory industry delivered its strongest first-quarter performance on record in 2026, defying the traditional seasonal slowdown as strong AI demand drove supply shortages and accelerated an upcycle. Revenue across the supply chain rose sharply year over year, with many upstream and downstream players reporting growth that doubled or more.

US–Iran tensions add another reason to rethink plastic-heavy, disposable supply chains

Jingyue Hsiao — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:55:34 GMT

The ongoing US–Iran conflict is raising global costs for raw materials and energy, leading to higher prices and shortages across sectors such as plastic packaging and consumer goods, while simultaneously accelerating demand for green consumption, durable products, and secondhand markets that may significantly reshape procurement, retail, and sustainability strategies worldwide.