CONNECT WITH US
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Taiwan's 2026 exports set to top US$800 billion as AI fuels electronics surge
Taiwan's exports were forecast to surpass US$800 billion in 2026, driven by strong demand for electronic components and information and audiovisual products tied to artificial intelligence, according to China Credit Information Service. The projection followed a record first quarter when exports reached US$195.74 billion, marking the highest quarterly total on record and a 51.1% year-over-year increase.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
ASE signs cybersecurity MOU with national institute to shore up semiconductor defenses
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and the National Institute of Cyber Security signed a memorandum of understanding on April 28 to establish a joint cyber defense, intelligence sharing, and cooperation framework aimed at countering complex global cyber threats. The agreement will integrate technical resources and real-time threat intelligence to strengthen industry-wide defenses for the semiconductor sector, with an emphasis on protecting smart manufacturing and core corporate assets in Kaohsiung.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Amkor records strong 1Q26, advanced packaging expected to triple YoY
Amkor Technology is off to a record start in 2026. First-quarter revenue hit US$1.68 billion, up 27% from the prior year, driven by record performance in AI data center applications and a fourth consecutive quarter of growth in automotive and industrial segments. Earnings per diluted share came in at US$0.33, beating analyst expectations on the back of a favorable product mix and disciplined cost management. The company's strategy is firmly anchored in high-value advanced packaging for AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC). CEO Kevin Engel noted that several High-Density Fan-Out (HDFO) programs are underway, with a new data center CPU device beginning its ramp this quarter.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Agentic AI sparks CPU demand surge, boosting ASIC and niche chip makers
The rise of agentic AI has transformed computing chip requirements, igniting a fierce CPU supply scramble. Traditional x86 giants like Intel and AMD are seeing growing CPU demand in cloud AI, while application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) vendors stand to benefit significantly.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Analysis: Why Tokyo Electron's China problem goes deeper than a data breach
Amid growing geopolitical tensions over the global semiconductor supply chain, what initially appeared to be an internal personnel matter is evolving into a broader case study of the operational risks that foreign equipment vendors face in China.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Samsung fast-tracks Pyeongtaek fabs to turn HBM4 edge into AI memory scale

Samsung is accelerating one of its most aggressive memory capacity buildouts in years, aiming to bring its Pyeongtaek Line 4 fab, or P4, into full operation by the end of 2026 as the AI server boom reshapes demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and advanced DRAM.

Tuesday 28 April 2026
Nvidia says GPU allocation follows first-come, first-served principle, not highest bidder
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang clarified in an April 2026 interview with Silicon Valley podcast host Dwarkesh Patel that the company allocates GPUs based on a first-come, first-served principle rather than a highest bidder wins approach.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
US chip packaging capacity to hit 10% by 2032
The Trump administration continues to push for reshoring the semiconductor industry to the US. As global foundry giants TSMC, Intel, and Samsung Electronics expand advanced manufacturing capacities stateside, strengthening local OSAT capabilities is seen as the "last mile" in building a domestic supply chain.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Strong demand and advanced packaging execution drive Amkor's upbeat quarter
Amkor Technology reported a strong start to 2026, with management attributing the performance to robust demand across multiple end markets and continued execution in advanced packaging.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
TSMC 2nm leak case results in NT$150M fine for TEL; company says no confidential data was leaked and discussions are underway
In the trade secret leak case involving TSMC's 2nm process, the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court ruled on April 27, 2026, that Tokyo Electron (TEL), the equipment supplier involved, must pay a fine of NT$150 million (US$4.8 million), marking the first penalty imposed on a legal entity under the National Security Act.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Why the AI boom still runs through Taiwan — and why that won't change
As trade tensions simmer and geopolitical flashpoints multiply, Taiwan's technology sector is holding firm. Anchored by surging AI infrastructure demand and a pivotal shift in how its chips reach the world, the island's economy is on track for its strongest growth in years — and industry experts say the fundamentals have rarely looked more solid.
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Commentary: Tim Cook's sole omission during 15-year tenor
On December 6, 2022, Tim Cook stood on a construction site in Phoenix, Arizona, alongside President Biden, TSMC founder Morris Chang, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. It was the tool-in ceremony for TSMC's first Arizona fab, a moment that crystallized how central Taiwan's semiconductor industry had become to American technology ambitions. For Cook, it was also the closest he ever got to TSMC's leadership in 15 years as Apple's CEO.
Monday 27 April 2026
DIGITIMES: Enterprise AI shifts toward inference as computing architectures undergo structural realignment

As enterprise adoption of generative AI accelerates, a new phase of infrastructure demand is beginning to take shape. According to DIGITIMES' special report, Accelerating enterprise AI: Hardware advancements and compute architecture transformation, the industry is moving beyond the initial buildout of training capacity and into a stage defined by large-scale deployment—where inference workloads are emerging as the primary driver of compute growth.

Monday 27 April 2026
Samsung reportedly breaks 10nm barrier with first single-digit nanometer DRAM working die
Samsung Electronics has reportedly become the first company in the world to develop a single-digit nanometer-class 10a DRAM working die, using the prototype to fine-tune process conditions to rapidly improve yield.
Monday 27 April 2026
TSMC trade secret theft ends in 10-year sentence, $4.6M fine against Tokyo Electron
A Taiwanese court handed down its harshest ruling yet in a semiconductor trade secret case on Monday, sentencing a former TSMC engineer to 10 years in prison and fining Japanese equipment giant Tokyo Electron (TEL) NT$150 million (approximately US$4.6 million) for stealing advanced chipmaking secrets — marking the first time a corporation has been penalized under Taiwan's National Security Act.
Monday 27 April 2026
HCL-Foxconn JV taps Taiwan's CTCI to build India OSAT facility
The HCL-Foxconn joint venture has selected Taiwan-based engineering firm CTCI as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner for its upcoming outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) facility in Uttar Pradesh, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The Economic Times. The project marks a further step in India's push to localize semiconductor packaging capacity amid a global supply chain diversification.
Monday 27 April 2026
Quanta bets on speed and scale to power next growth wave
Quanta Computer is doubling down on speed, scale, and execution as it heads into 2026, with leadership expressing strong confidence that surging AI server demand will drive another year of record growth, even amid global uncertainty. At Quanta's 38th anniversary celebration, Vice Chairman C.C. Leung emphasized the company's ability to meet increasingly demanding customer expectations. Orders are not only growing in volume, he noted, but also require faster delivery and lower costs. Despite operating at full capacity, he stressed that the company continues to seek even more orders and growth opportunities.
Monday 27 April 2026
Denso weighs Rohm bid withdrawal as support stalls

Japanese auto parts supplier Denso said on April 27 that it is considering all options, including withdrawing its acquisition proposal for chipmaker Rohm, after failing to secure the company's support.

Monday 27 April 2026
ASE Technology spotlights 18 suppliers at the forefront of a trillion-dollar AI wave
Global outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) leader ASE Technology Holding (ASEH) held its 2025 ASE Supplier Award ceremony, inviting more than 100 suppliers of packaging and testing equipment, raw materials, components, and processing, along with its subsidiaries Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE), Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL), and Universal Scientific Industrial (USI).
Monday 27 April 2026
TSMC's refusal of ASML's expensive High-NA EUV equipment, explained
ASML has launched its 0.55 High Numerical Aperture Extreme Ultraviolet (High-NA EUV) in an effort to extend Moore's Law. The market had originally expected TSMC to adopt it first, but the company has held back. TSMC Senior Vice President of Global Business Kevin Zhang stated at the North America Technology Symposium that there are currently no plans to introduce High-NA EUV before 2029, mainly because "it's too expensive!" This decision also reflects how TSMC is shifting competition focus from equipment to process integration and cost efficiency.
Monday 27 April 2026
Weekly news roundup: Micron's Sanand ramp shifts India chip debate; Qualcomm Chief reportedly seeks deals in South Korea
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of April 20-27, 2026:
Monday 27 April 2026
DIGITIMES Insight: Will TSMC's 3nm expansion put Samsung's 2nm bid on the back foot?
As the AI buildout accelerates and chipmakers race to secure advanced process capacity, TSMC finds itself in an increasingly commanding position.
Monday 27 April 2026
South Korea and Vietnam deepen tech and supply chain cooperation amid global uncertainty
South Korea and Vietnam have expanded cooperation across technology, energy, and infrastructure, signing dozens of agreements during Korean President Lee Jae-Myung's visit to Hanoi, as both countries seek to reinforce supply chain resilience amid global volatility.
Monday 27 April 2026
India roundup: Micron ramp, Dholera SEZ push India toward full-stack chip manufacturing

India is accelerating its semiconductor ambitions, from Micron Technology's Sanand ramp to new fabrication and advanced packaging projects, while expanding design partnerships. At the same time, regulatory pressure on Apple, weakening smartphone demand, and solar policy tensions highlight challenges alongside growing global supply-chain integration.

Monday 27 April 2026
Cerebras files for IPO after AI chip breakthrough, G42 partnership shapes supply chain
Cerebras Systems filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on April 17, 2026, aiming to list on the Nasdaq. The company reversed its fortunes with US$510 million in revenue and a net profit of US$87.9 million in 2025, compared to US$290 million revenue and a net loss of US$484.8 million in 2024.