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Jun 18
Samsung, SK Hynix weigh first chip packaging plants in South Korea's Honam region

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are each reviewing locations in South Korea's Honam region for new semiconductor packaging plants, according to The Elec and Hankyung, citing industry sources, as the two companies look for ways to add back-end capacity beyond their existing manufacturing hubs.

SK Hynix is reported to have held a private meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Allison Hooker, with industry sources speculating the discussions covered high-bandwidth memory cooperation with major U.S. technology firms and potential semiconductor investment expansion.
China's semiconductor supply chain is showing fresh signs of pricing strain, with microcontroller unit (MCU) makers and passive component suppliers facing rising costs, tighter capacity, and surging demand from AI servers.

Samsung Electronics' foundry business has signed a strategic manufacturing collaboration with Claros, a US power-management startup, to produce semiconductors designed to cut energy waste inside AI data centers, according to a Claros announcement and a report by ZDNet Korea.

US President Donald Trump said on June 18 that Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and manufacture chips in the US, a claim he made in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Kioxia, one of the world's major NAND flash memory suppliers, is prioritizing long-term agreements (LTAs), BiCS migration, and domestic fab efficiency over aggressive capacity expansion, signaling a more disciplined approach to the AI storage cycle.

Founded in 2014, Oppstar is one of the few Malaysian companies operating at the front end of the semiconductor value chain as an IC design house. The company was established by three founders with extensive experience in the IC design industry: Meng Thai Ng, Hun Wah Cheah, and Chun Chiat Tan. Headquartered in Bayan Lepas, Penang, Oppstar opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2022. From its inception, the company positioned itself as a one-stop IC design service provider, initially focusing on 16nm design nodes.

India's air-conditioner supply chain may be becoming an early test case for a broader electronics manufacturing challenge: how to trace products, components, process data, and defects across high-volume production networks.

Taiwan's semiconductor equipment, components, and solutions providers posted robust revenue growth through the first five months of 2026, with 34 of 43 tracked companies reporting positive accumulated year-on-year figures.

Demand in the passive components market is recovering significantly, lifting operating momentum at Taiwan's two leading suppliers, Yageo and Walsin Technology. Average book-to-bill ratios at both companies have risen above 1.3, placing industry conditions near their highest levels in recent years and reinforcing expectations for sequential growth through 2026.

Taiwan's electronics industry is stepping up its global ambitions as AI, data center infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing reshape supply chains. Speaking at the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) on June 18, 2026, Foxconn chairman and Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) chairman Young Liu outlined a strategy that combines overseas industrial parks, AI-driven transformation and next-generation factory automation.

Backlight module maker Darwin held its shareholders' meeting on June 17, 2026, and said it remains cautiously optimistic about 2026 revenue as its new businesses continue to gain traction. The company cited fresh commercial display orders in the US market and said organ-chip partner Anivance AI is also listed on an "Nvidia backdrop," adding momentum to its medical technology push.