DIGITIMES news

Monday 12 October 2026

Samsung, SK Hynix accept ASML's 10% price hike in parts, report says

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have accepted a 10% increase in ASML's replacement-part prices for lithography systems in South Korea, with the higher rates taking effect for deliveries starting in January 2027, The Elec reported on October 11, citing industry sources.

Samsung reportedly secures long-term contracts covering up to 80% of 2027 memory supply

Monday 12 October 2026

Sumitomo Bakelite expands packaging material production across Singapore, China

Monday 12 October 2026

Cook makes first post-CEO visit to China, lauds Guangdong's role in Apple supply chain

Monday 12 October 2026

Rapidus targets customers underserved by TSMC, but can it convince them to take the risk?

Monday 12 October 2026

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Monday 12 October 2026

China proposes physical controls and tougher testing for new vehicles

China proposed tighter vehicle design and safety requirements that would restrict fully hidden door handles, virtual controls for critical functions and several interior features in new vehicles. The draft rules, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other government departments, are intended to reduce safety risks associated with rapidly developed vehicle models and would affect automakers seeking approvals in China.

Monday 12 October 2026

EU caps annual HEV imports at 350,000 to curb trade deficit with China

The European Union plans to cap imports of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) at 350,000 units per year, with safeguard measures potentially taking effect as early as December 1, 2026. The four-year framework sets a 350,000-unit limit in its first year, followed by a 6% annual quota expansion starting in the second year, while both sides commit to complying with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Monday 12 October 2026

Moonshot AI's Hong Kong IPO faces a critical ownership dispute ahead of US$50 billion debut

China's Moonshot AI is seeking to settle a shareholder dispute involving claims potentially exceeding US$700 million ahead of a potential US$5 billion Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO). Allegations concerning asset transfers and corporate governance could complicate the AI startup's listing preparations.

Monday 12 October 2026

South Korea's Nucode targets US drone identification market with Realtek-based module

South Korean wireless communications module maker Nucode has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with US drone identification and airspace intelligence provider Zing Drone Solutions to develop and supply electronic component modules for ultra-small and small-scale solutions. Nucode's NU87 module, which uses a Realtek chip, is among the products submitted for evaluation.

Monday 12 October 2026

Biren's BR20X GPU targets 1,024-chip AI systems, but US curbs cloud mass production

China's Biren Technology has successfully powered on its next-generation BR20X GPU, advancing to post-tapeout validation while preparing for customer sampling and mass production. The milestone advances its AI accelerator roadmap, though US export controls and manufacturing constraints remain major obstacles.

Monday 12 October 2026

South Korean startup Helios targets Taiwan supply chains and Taiwan Strait risk analysis

As US defense procurement restrictions and European Union (EU) supply-chain due diligence requirements advance, South Korean risk-intelligence startup Helios is targeting verification needs in Taiwan and South Korea's AI, semiconductor, and defense industries. The company plans to bring public-information analysis and on-site verification services to Taiwan while strengthening maritime-threat analysis around the Taiwan Strait for corporate and national-security applications.

Monday 12 October 2026

AITO doubles down on CATL as China's battery supply chain shifts toward selective diversification

As efforts to curb CATL's dominance accelerate across China's automotive landscape, the domestic battery market is beginning to move away from single-supplier dependence and toward a more diversified sourcing model.

Monday 12 October 2026

Samsung could unseat SK Hynix as HBM leader in 2027

Samsung Electronics could overtake SK Hynix as the world's largest supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in 2027, as HBM4 prices climb and memory manufacturers compete for limited DRAM production capacity, according to forecasts presented at an October 6 semiconductor industry forum in Seoul.

Monday 12 October 2026

Apple's iPhone 18 order cuts expose widening divide in premium demand

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup is showing mixed demand signals weeks after launch. Reports of component order cuts suggest weaker-than-expected sales, while Chinese supply-chain sources point to stronger demand for the pricier Pro Max and foldable iPhone Duo. The divergence highlights growing pressure on Apple's premium strategy as rising memory costs drive smartphone prices higher.

Monday 12 October 2026

India's festive smartphone sales may slow as memory costs lift prices

India's key festive smartphone season is set to matter far beyond its borders, as higher memory costs reshape pricing, buying habits, and brand competition in a major emerging market. Counterpoint Research expects unit sales to fall, even as market value rises, highlighting a global shift toward pricier, more selective device upgrades.

Monday 12 October 2026

SK Hynix's US$299 billion chip plan faces military base hurdle

SK Hynix's proposed KRW400 trillion (approx. US$299 billion) semiconductor expansion in southwestern South Korea faces a major obstacle as the company races to increase memory production capacity: the planned manufacturing site includes military facilities used by US forces, complicating construction timelines as competition intensifies with Micron Technology and Chinese chipmakers.

Monday 12 October 2026

Chinese thermal materials maker SJ Electronics to build US$70 million plant in Penang

PEN SJ Electronics, a subsidiary of China's SJ Electronics, will invest more than US$70 million in an advanced packaging materials and thermal management facility at Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3 (BKIP3) in Penang, Malaysia, and plans to create more than 1,000 jobs. Penang Chief Minister Kon Yeow Chow announced the investment on October 7, 2026.

Monday 12 October 2026

LG Display unveils maskless OLED technology, targeting more efficient IT displays

LG Display has unveiled a new organic light-emitting diode (OLED) manufacturing technology designed to improve production efficiency and display performance, and reduce manufacturing costs as it prepares to expand into the information technology display market.

Monday 12 October 2026

Former iPhone display plant in Japan reportedly to enter AI chip supply chain

A former iPhone display factory in Mobara, Japan, is set for a new role in the semiconductor supply chain, with Shinko Electric Industries planning to convert the site into a production base for semiconductor package substrates used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

Monday 12 October 2026

Kawasaki Heavy Industries bets JPY550 billion on physical AI, robotics

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is betting on physical AI as part of a multibillion-dollar growth plan to modernize factories, address labor shortages, and expand robotics across shipbuilding, aerospace, and healthcare. The move signals how one of Japan's major industrial groups plans to compete in a global market where automation is increasingly central to productivity, resilience, and long-term growth.

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