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Apr 9
Why global chipmakers want to join TSMC's certified supply chain
TSMC's long-established supplier verification and management system is gradually becoming an industry standard, attracting major players worldwide. Samsung Electronics, Intel, Japan's Rapidus, China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), Hua Hong Semiconductor, Nexchip Semiconductor, and even Tesla CEO Elon Musk are actively engaging with Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain.
Anthropic is exploring the possibility of designing its own AI chips, though the effort remains at a very early stage, Reuters reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. "The plans are in early stages, and the company may still decide only to buy AI chips and not design any," Reuters reported, adding that the startup has not yet committed to a specific architecture or assembled a dedicated semiconductor team.

As global corporations accelerate spending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, supply constraints are no longer limited to memory chips. Signs of tightening availability are now emerging in multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), small but essential components used across a vast range of electronic systems. Lead times for these parts are lengthening across the industry, according to market data.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Samsung is in discussions with the Vietnamese government to establish an IC testing facility, which could become the company's second overseas backend semiconductor site outside South Korea after China. Bloomberg also reported that Samsung is planning a phased investment of about US$4 billion in Vietnam, underscoring its continued expansion in Southeast Asia.

Industry sources report that the recent supply concerns over semiconductor-grade helium triggered by the US-Iran conflict have eased, as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix secured long-term contracts ensuring stable access to the critical gas.

AUO eyes CPO and LEO satellites as Innolux pushes FOPLP growth
Apr 10, 08:04
AUO and Innolux are accelerating their expansion beyond traditional display panels, with Innolux's non-display revenue surpassing 51% in 2025, mainly driven by automotive applications. AUO also aims to obtain a non-display revenue share exceeding 50% in 2026.
China's largest memory maker CXMT is targeting mass production of 12-layer high-bandwidth memory (HBM) by 2027, positioning itself to challenge mainstream specifications long dominated by South Korean suppliers — all within three years of entering the segment.
As AI and high-performance computing (HPC) demand surges and the semiconductor supply chain undergoes accelerating restructuring, structural changes are emerging in the critical materials market long dominated by major US and Japanese players. Praise Victor Industrial (PVI), specializing in polyurethane (PU) material technology and operating three main product lines — semiconductor polishing pads and consumables, medical and sports products, and eco-friendly adhesives — counts Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC), Nexchip, TSMC, UMC, and Micron among its customers. The company plans to go public in May 2026.
Transcom Technology expects flat full-year revenue for 2026 amid stalled progress in Taiwan's defense budget, which is potentially delaying deliveries of Gong-3 and Gong-4 missile systems. A first mass-production order for a high-frequency SSPA module from an Indian client, however, could help the company expand its international revenue share to 30%.

Taiwan-based touch IC design leader Elan Microelectronics announced its March 2026 and first-quarter revenue figures, posting robust growth despite a traditionally slow season.

Memory prices are rising sharply, with Transcend Information chairman Peter Shu warning that supply-demand pressure will intensify through 2026 despite weakening consumer demand.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are reportedly shifting to multi-year memory supply agreements, marking a structural change in how the global memory industry prices, allocates, and plans capacity in the AI era.