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Thursday 29 January 2026

UMC accelerates advanced packaging and silicon photonics development as AI drives demand

As artificial intelligence (AI) applications expand globally, United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) is intensifying its efforts in advanced packaging and silicon photonics (SiPh) technologies. UMC co-president Jason Wang highlighted that although these segments currently generate modest revenues, a surge in project activity is anticipated to drive "significant growth" beginning in 2027, marking a strategic focus on emerging markets tied to AI and related fields.

Thursday 29 January 2026

Earnings call summary: Samsung 4Q25 profit rides memory boom to record revenue

Samsung Electronics posted record quarterly revenue and operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring how AI-driven demand for advanced memory has become the company's main earnings engine, even as smartphones, TVs, and home appliances faced seasonal slowdowns and margin pressure.

Thursday 29 January 2026

Upstream firms say US investment unprofitable if gross margin below 50%

Following the signing of the Taiwan-US investment cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU), the next step is to finalize the agreement on reciprocal trade (ART) between the two countries. As Taiwanese supply chains pursue strategies of making collective moves in the US, some companies express willingness to follow the lead of TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker who is investing enormous sums in building wafer fabs in the US. However, upstream players admit that with high production costs in the US, investments may not be profitable unless their gross margins exceed 50%.

Thursday 29 January 2026

VIS licenses GaN technology from TSMC to boost power device development

Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) has signed a licensing agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for high-voltage (650V) and low-voltage (80V) gallium nitride (GaN) process technologies, the company announced on January 28. This deal aims to accelerate Vanguard's development of next-generation GaN power devices for applications in data centers, automotive electronics, industrial control, and energy management.

Thursday 29 January 2026

UMC sets 2026 capex at US$1.5b as 4Q revenue rises 4.5%

United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) reported a moderate revenue increase in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by favorable currency exchange rates and growth in its 22/28nm semiconductor business. Consolidated revenue reached NT$61.81 billion (US$1.97 billion), up 4.5% sequentially from NT$59.13 billion and 2.4% higher year-on-year. The company's gross margin improved to 30.7% from 29.8% in the previous quarter. Net income after tax stood at NT$10.06 billion, translating to earnings per share of NT$0.81.

Thursday 29 January 2026

Scientech's growth signals shift in semiconductor investment toward packaging and system integration

As artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) expand rapidly, the global semiconductor industry is redirecting investments from advanced process nodes to advanced packaging and system-level integration. This shift is driving increased demand for complex packaging technologies and semiconductor equipment, creating new growth opportunities along the supply chain.

Thursday 29 January 2026

Taiwan and Germany expand trade ties as demand for chips and green tech rises

As demand accelerates for digital transformation, energy transition, and smart manufacturing, Taiwan and Germany appear poised to expand cooperation across a widening range of industries, including semiconductors, advanced machinery, green technologies, and applied innovation.

Thursday 29 January 2026

Deep dive: how Taiwan engineered a 15% tariff deal

As the global trade landscape shifts under the weight of new US policies, a distinct divergence has emerged in East Asia. While South Korea currently faces a tariff hike to 25% amid legislative delays in ratifying its trade pact, Taiwan has successfully locked in a fixed 15% non-compounding rate.

Thursday 29 January 2026

How Sega's US$5 million lifeline saved Nvidia from collapse

In a recent interview with Jodi Shelton, Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, reflected on a life spent in near-constant motion. After years of crisscrossing the globe, he said, there are three places where he always lands with a sense of joy: Hawaii, Taiwan, and Japan.

Thursday 29 January 2026

Column: How chip value spillover is redefining Taiwan's economic and industrial trajectory

I describe the close integration of Taiwan's semiconductor and electronics industries as the spillover of chip economic value. In earlier phases of the industry, economic value creation in electronic systems was highly concentrated at the chip level. Advancing process nodes alone was sufficient to capture most of the value. That model no longer holds. Today, improvements in manufacturing technology must propagate beyond wafer fabrication to packaging, testing, and ultimately system-level integration to translate into tradable economic value.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Earnings call summary: ASML executives bet on chip demand strength past 2025

ASML Holding's management says demand tied to artificial intelligence is proving more durable than previously expected, with customers accelerating capacity planning that is likely to support orders for the Dutch company's most advanced lithography systems into and beyond 2026.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

ASML orders beat expectations as company plans 1,700 layoffs

ASML reported stronger-than-expected bookings in the fourth quarter of 2025 as customers stepped up investment in artificial intelligence chipmaking capacity, according to Reuters. The Dutch semiconductor equipment maker said fourth-quarter bookings reached EUR13.2 billion (US$15.8 billion), more than double the EUR5.4 billion recorded in the previous quarter and well above analyst expectations of EUR6.32 billion, based on data from Visible Alpha.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Earnings call summary: ASML posts record 2025 results on surging orders

ASML Holding NV (ASML) reported record financial results for 2025, supported by a significant rebound in fourth-quarter bookings as semiconductor manufacturers increased investments in artificial intelligence chipmaking. The Dutch lithography equipment maker posted total net sales of EUR32.7 billion (US$39.2 billion) for the year, with net income reaching EUR9.6 billion.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Powertech will invest NT$43.3 billion to accelerate FOPLP, targets mass production in 1H27

In response to growing demand from AI and high-performance computing (HPC) for advanced packaging capacity such as fan-out panel-level packaging (FOPLP), Powertech chairman DK Tsai has outlined breakthroughs in FOPLP technology and expansion plans. After solving warpage in manufacturing, Powertech is targeting yield rates of 95-98%.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Powertech posts 4Q25 profit high, eyes growth momentum into 2026

Memory testing and packaging firm Powertech Technology (PTI) reported that its revenue and earnings met expectations in the fourth quarter of 2025. Quarterly revenue reached NT$21.41 billion (approx. US$681.38 million), up 25.2% year-over-year. Net income attributable to the owners of the parent totaled NT$1.86 billion, increasing 21.2% quarterly and 22.3% year-over-year, while earnings per share stood at NT$2.52.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Musk plans to cut AI chip design cycle to 9 months

Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted on X that the AI5 chip design is "almost done and AI6 is in early stages," with AI7, AI8, and AI9 "aiming for a 9-month design cycle." Musk stated that the AI5 chip achieves performance comparable to Nvidia's Hopper with a single SoC configuration, and with a dual-SoC configuration, it rivals Nvidia's Blackwell, while maintaining lower cost and pricing. He said that the AI5's development faced challenges, with Musk himself working consecutive weekends for months with minimal days off.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Exclusive: Nvidia to reportedly shift 2028 chip production to Intel, reshaping TSMC strategy

TSMC's dominance in advanced process and packaging has made it a prime target amid US manufacturing mandates. Chip customers now face mounting pressure to diversify supply chains due to cost and capacity constraints, accelerating the shift toward multi-sourcing strategies.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Mouser Electronics expands manufacturer lineup with 63 new partners in 2025

Mouser Electronics, a global authorized distributor of electronic components and industrial automation products, added 63 new manufacturers to its line card in 2025, further increasing the range of components available to design engineers and purchasing professionals. The distributor also introduced more than 40,000 new part numbers over the year.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Why the Nexperia crisis is still accelerating 'non-red' automotive supply chains

By the end of 2025, a political dispute between the Netherlands and China had rippled through the global automotive industry. Nexperia, the Dutch semiconductor manufacturer owned by China's Wingtech Technology, was forced to temporarily halt shipments, triggering fears of supply-chain disruptions across the automotive sector.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

TI outlook points to tentative recovery as cash flow strength offsets profit pressure

Texas Instruments' (TI) latest results and guidance suggest a cautious rebound in demand, particularly in industrial and automotive markets, even as profits remain under pressure. Analysts say resilient cash flow and constructive capital allocation help steady investor sentiment amid an uneven recovery.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Lightmatter leverages Taiwan ecosystem to bridge the gap between photonics prototypes and production

Lightmatter is hosting its Tech Day in Taiwan on January 28, 2026, following the announcement of strategic partnerships with Global Unichip Corp. (GUC), Cadence Design Systems, and Synopsys. The company is positioning itself to advance AI infrastructure and accelerate the commercialization of co‑packaged optics (CPO) solutions.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Analysis: Why Tesla is splitting AI5 chip production between TSMC and Samsung

In mid-December 2025, TSMC chairman C.C. Wei disclosed details of a conversation with Elon Musk regarding future development priorities. The discussion centered not on automotive production, but on AI-driven robotics. Musk identified chip scarcity as his primary constraint, to which Wei responded that capacity remains available for customers willing to commit the necessary capital.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

King Yuan Electronics recovers most stolen semiconductor test equipment, strengthens controls

King Yuan Electronics (KYEC), a leading semiconductor testing company, has recovered over 80% of stolen IC test load boards and other equipment after an internal engineer allegedly stole and resold more than 50 units, causing losses estimated at NT$120 million (approx. US$3.81 million). The company confirmed no data breaches occurred and outlined steps to enhance security.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

As China races to localize auto chips, Taiwan locks onto upmarket

In recent years, Chinese companies have significantly increased their investment in automotive semiconductors, aiming to accelerate the development of a domestic supply chain. Yet in key technologies—particularly power semiconductors used in electric vehicle (EV) drivetrains—expertise remains firmly in the hands of European and American integrated device manufacturers (IDMs). These technologies are unlikely to be displaced in the near term.

Wednesday 28 January 2026

TI sees uneven recovery: Industrial rebuilds and data center booms, but consumer electronics fade

Texas Instruments' latest commentary during its Q4 2025 earnings call on January 27, 2026, shows a company increasingly shaped by industrial, automotive, and data center demand, even as consumer-facing segments remain uneven. Management framed fourth-quarter results as broadly in line with expectations, while emphasizing that the mix of end markets—not pricing—is driving both near-term performance and longer-term strategy.

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