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Friday 15 May 2026
Samsung shields chip lines as union sticks to strike plan

Samsung Electronics has reportedly begun pre-emptive production adjustments at its semiconductor facilities as its labor union sticks to a planned 18-day strike despite the company's latest offer to resume talks without conditions

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Friday 15 May 2026
Everlight to build automotive LED plant in Thailand as raw material costs hit profit
Everlight Electronics said it will invest an additional US$56.5 million in its Thai subsidiary to buy land, build a plant, and add equipment, as the LED packaging firm moves to strengthen its presence in the automotive supply chain. The company also reported that first-quarter 2026 profit fell to NT$403 million (US$12.83 million), down 30.99% year on year, as higher raw material costs weighed on margins
Friday 15 May 2026
Maserati turns to Huawei as China's EV power expands into luxury cars
In a move that underscores both the desperation of legacy luxury brands and the growing confidence of China's electric-vehicle (EV) industry, Huawei is reportedly in advanced talks with Maserati and JAC Motors to jointly develop a new generation of high-end EVs aimed at Europe's premium auto market
Friday 15 May 2026
Broadcom loses South Korea appeal over fine for alleged coercive Samsung supply deal
Broadcom lost its appeal in South Korea on May 13, 2026, when the Seoul High Court upheld a KRW191 billion (approx. US$130 million) fine for allegedly coercing Samsung Electronics into an unfair three-year supply contract, according to Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily. The court dismissed challenges brought by Broadcom's US headquarters and three South Korean affiliates against the Korea Fair Trade Commission's corrective order and penalty
Friday 15 May 2026
Samsung strike risk lifts memory spot prices as supply risks mount

Samsung Electronics' escalating labor dispute is adding fresh uncertainty to the memory market, with spot prices moving higher as South Korea's government pushes management and labor to resume talks ahead of a planned 18-day strike

Friday 15 May 2026
US clears Nvidia’s H200 for China, but Beijing can still say no
The US has cleared around 10 Chinese companies to buy Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence chips, but no deliveries have been made, suggesting that Washington's approval alone may not be enough to revive the company's high-end China business
Friday 15 May 2026
US-China ties shift toward balancing tech pressure with controlled competition
The US is signaling a shift toward constrained high-intensity competition with China, seeking to preserve technological advantage while creating mechanisms to allow limited economic engagement, according to remarks by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during the Trump-Xi summit
Friday 15 May 2026
Hua Hong Semiconductor strategy focuses on AI demand and specialty tech expansion
Hua Hong Semiconductor is positioning itself to capitalize on the accelerating transformation of the global semiconductor industry, driven primarily by the "unmistakably positive impact of AI" on market demand. During its first-quarter 2026 earnings call on May 14, 2026, the company outlined a multi-pronged strategy to enhance its position as a leader in specialty process technologies while expanding into nascent, high-growth sectors
Friday 15 May 2026
Malaysia's Arm-backed chip push lifts Oppstar, SkyeChip as startup ambitions expand beyond packaging
Malaysia is accelerating efforts to expand beyond semiconductor assembly and testing into chip design, following a government-backed initiative tied to access to Arm technology
Friday 15 May 2026
SMIC refocuses on capital investment over dividends as AI boom reshapes demand
During its first-quarter 2026 earnings call on May 15, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) detailed a strategic realignment of its operations to capitalize on the "AI boom" while maintaining a rigorous investment schedule. The company emphasized that it is currently in a "critical stage of capacity expansion" and is continuously pushing to enhance its competitive standing, leading to significant shifts in how it allocates resources and returns value to shareholders
Friday 15 May 2026
Hua Hong bets US$6bn on Wuxi as specialty chip demand lifts margins
Hua Hong Semiconductor is accelerating its growth strategy through significant capacity expansion and the development of specialty technologies to meet rising global demand. During its latest earnings call on May 14, the company highlighted robust financial performance driven by emerging applications in artificial intelligence and power management
Friday 15 May 2026
SMIC beats margin guidance even as operating profit slides
On May 14, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) released its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2026, reporting a modest quarterly revenue increase alongside a double-digit year-over-year gain. The company recorded revenue of US$2,505 million for the period, a 0.7% increase from US$2,489 million in the final quarter of 2025. This performance reflects an 11.5% growth compared to the US$2,247 million generated during the same quarter of the previous year
Friday 15 May 2026
TCL tightens grip on Guangzhou LCD hub, unleashes US$4 billion OLED expansion
China's TCL Technology is deepening its control over its Guangzhou display manufacturing base while accelerating OLED investment, reflecting its broader push to cement a leading position across both LCD and OLED markets
Friday 15 May 2026
Etron chair warns of US-South Korea alliance threatening Taiwan's chip industry
Memory industry profits have surged, and Samsung Electronics recently posted earnings that exceeded TSMC's revenue for the first quarter of 2026, underscoring memory's rise as a strategic resource. Etron Chairman Nicky Lu warned that amid global geopolitical shifts, the US and South Korea are highly likely to move toward a deep alliance that could pose a formidable challenge to Taiwan's semiconductor industry over the next 10 years
Friday 15 May 2026
South Korea denies plan to share semiconductor tax windfall with citizens
A political debate in South Korea over how to manage windfall tax revenues from the country's semiconductor boom has intensified after remarks by a senior presidential aide sparked widespread controversy and conflicting media reports
Friday 15 May 2026
China's auto market pivots to EVs as profits erode
Rising oil prices tied to Middle East tensions have accelerated a structural shift in China's auto market, even as weakening domestic demand and intensifying price competition squeeze industry profits