DIGITIMES Tech news

Home Tech

Jul 9, 12:06 SEMICONDUCTORS

TSMC's GaN market exit creates opening for Samsung, Asian chip race rage on

Jul 9, 11:35 SEMICONDUCTORS

T-Glass shortage chokes CoWoS substrate supply, Nittobo delays ramp-up

Jul 9, 10:29 SEMICONDUCTORS

Intel halts in-house glass substrate development as Tan avoids 'R&D trap'

US-Vietnam Tariff Deal

On July 2, US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Vietnam.

Unclear US definitions on origin washing put Vietnam in crossfire of both superpowers
Component makers across Southeast Asia await clarity as Vietnam reaches tariff deal with US
Apple faces fresh tariff headwinds as US-Vietnam deal reshapes supply chains

...More

SEMICONDUCTORS

Jul 9, 16:00

How China's trade-in policy is reviving South Korea's 8‑inch chip sector

In the escalating US-China tensions, China's aggressive drive to boost domestic semiconductor production—coupled with a sweeping "trade-in" subsidy program—has led to a surge of orders flowing to South Korean 8-inch wafer foundries, creating an unexpected boon for the nation's mature chip manufacturing sector.

Jul 9, 15:02

From copper to CoWoS: Douglas Yu retires from TSMC

Dr. Chen-Hua Douglas Yu, Vice President of Pathfinding for System Integration and the sole TSMC Distinguished Fellow, officially retired on July 8, 2025, closing a chapter in one of the most illustrious engineering legacies in Taiwan's semiconductor history. Revered as the "Final Knight" among TSMC's famed "Six Knights of R&D," Yu's pioneering contributions were instrumental in propelling TSMC to its global leadership in semiconductor manufacturing.

Jul 9, 16:18

US tariff pressure puts Taiwan's industrial resilience to test

Is US President Donald Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" policy a serious threat or merely a high-stakes bluff? Taiwan finds itself excluded from the initial list of targeted economies, with the mood oscillating between cautious relief and mounting anxiety. One big question looms: Will key industries like semiconductors and pharmaceuticals soon find themselves in the crosshairs under Section 232?

ICT

Jul 9, 14:48

Thailand scrambles to slash 36% US tariffs before August

US President Donald Trump has confirmed reciprocal tariffs on imports from 14 countries, maintaining Thailand's rate at 36%, effective August 1, 2025. Thailand's Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira remains hopeful that negotiations will lead to a reduction before the tariff comes into force.

Jul 9, 10:01

Meta invests US$3.5 billion in world's largest eyewear maker in AI glasses push

Meta Platforms Inc. bought a minority stake in the world's largest eyewear maker, EssilorLuxottica SA, a deal that increases the US tech giant's financial commitment to the fast-growing smart glasses industry, according to people familiar with the matter.

Jul 9, 15:23

Kaynes Technology to set up electronics unit in Kerala with US$58M investment

India-based EMS provider Kaynes Technology is expected to open a new manufacturing unit in Kerala. The company will receive land in Perumbavoor Industrial Park, developed by KINFRA, following approval from State Industries Minister P. Rajeeve after a site visit and discussions.

TRENDING

COMMUNICATIONS

Jul 9, 11:18

Trump to impose 25% tariffs on South Korean exports, raising pressure ahead of August deadline

US President Donald Trump has formally notified South Korea of plans to impose a 25% tariff on select imports, with implementation set for August 1. While a three-week window for negotiations remains, industry observers widely anticipate that talks will face significant headwinds.

Jul 8

Chief Telecom sees 1H25 revenue exceed NT$200 million

Internet data center (IDC) provider Chief Telecom saw revenue in July 2025 drop by 2.11% year-over-year to NT$327 million (approx. US$11.2 million). However, total revenue in the first six months of 2025 surged by 18.74% year-over-year to NT$2.08 billion (approx. US$71.5 million), as demand for AI and cloud services continues to grow alongside opportunities in data center leasing.

Jul 8

Local OTT platforms growing strong in Taiwan market despite international rivalry

Taiwan's top-three telecom service providers remain highly competitive in the local over-the-top (OTT) market, delivering impressive results in the first half of 2025 despite keen competition from international platforms.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Jul 9, 15:03

Tax policy uncertainty stalls Taiwan's auto sector despite govt push

As the calendar turns to July, major car brands across Taiwan are rolling out aggressive promotional campaigns in a bid to jumpstart lackluster sales. However, while automakers are signaling a renewed determination for a strong second half, their optimism is not shared by the supply chain, which paints a more sobering picture of the market's current state.

Jul 9, 11:55

Trump's tariff push spreads to auto parts in global trade escalation

The Trump administration has moved to expand its sweeping tariff policy on global automotive imports, introducing a new round of "reciprocal tariffs" that target specific auto components previously excluded from earlier duties. The new measures are separate from those already enacted this spring on complete vehicles and key parts.

Jul 9, 06:51

Volvo cuts jobs in China as EV ambitions stall and global restructuring accelerates

Volvo Cars has begun laying off staff in its China operations, with the majority of the cuts affecting its Shanghai-based technical and research and development center, according to employees familiar with the matter. The affected departments include engineering, research and development, and supply chain management. Employees have reportedly been offered severance packages equivalent to three months' salary plus one month for each year of service (N+3).

SUSTAINABILITY

Jul 9, 10:21

Trump's copper tariff threats are already raising factory costs

US President Donald Trump's plans to place hefty import tariffs on copper have already caused a spike in costs for American factories, with New York futures trading 25% higher than other global benchmarks on July 8.

Jul 9, 12:28

Seetel partners with Canadian firm to expand global energy storage reach

Taiwan's Seetel, a lithium battery and energy storage manufacturer, said Tuesday it formed a strategic alliance with Canadian energy storage solutions provider Energy Plug to expand into global markets.

Jul 8

GE Vernova's 1.3GW Taiwan gas plant starts operations

General Electric's power unit GE Vernova said a new 1.3-gigawatt gas-fired unit at Taiwan Power Co.'s Hsingta plant began commercial operations, marking a shift away from coal generation on the island.

AEROSPACE

Jul 9, 14:05

China bans exports to eight Taiwan defense companies

China's Ministry of Commerce imposed export restrictions on eight Taiwan-based defense contractors, including Aerospace Industrial Development Corp., cutting off access to dual-use materials and rare earth elements.

Jul 9, 15:17

Amazon's Project Kuiper targets South Korea in global satellite push

Amazon's satellite internet venture, Project Kuiper, is accelerating its expansion into Asia, with a focus on South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan — three strategically vital nations amid rising demand for resilient communications infrastructure and growing competition in low-Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity.

Jul 9, 10:38

AIDC's 1H25 orders surpass US$343 million due to global demand surge

Taiwanese aerospace manufacturer Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) announced on Monday that it secured new international contracts in the second quarter worth NT$2.5 billion (approx. US$85 million), with revenues expected to begin contributing as early as 2025. This follows a strong first quarter in which the company booked NT$8.5 billion in new orders and reported additional wins at the Paris Air Show. In total, AIDC's commercial aircraft and engine orders have surpassed NT$10 billion for the first half of the year.

DISPLAYS