Following an over 10% on-year growth in China's PCB revenues in the first half of 2025, CPCA Show Plus 2025, hosted by China Printed Circuit Association (CPCA), will be held from October 28-30 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center.
The development of artificial intelligence (AI) chips has brought the printed circuit board (PCB) and semiconductor industries closer together. Zhen Ding Technology chairman Charles Shen stated that as heterogeneous integration becomes the trend in advanced packaging technology, the AI wave is creating a once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity for the PCB industry. He emphasized that this will show the world that, in addition to semiconductors, Taiwan also possesses comprehensive capabilities in PCB technology.
Geopolitical tensions are creating turbulence in global trade. According to TSMC founder Morris Chang, globalization is dead. Semiconductor material distributor Topco Scientific also reported sensing the trend toward localized supply chains.
Below are the top DIGITIMES Asia stories from October 20 to 26, 2025.
Longtime rivals Samsung Electronics and Hanmi Semiconductor may be wiping the slate clean and possibly teaming up after South Korea's 27th Semiconductor Exhibition (SEDEX 2025). If this materializes, Hanmi Semiconductor could supply HBM manufacturing equipment while holding orders from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, three of the largest memory manufacturers.
The memory industry has recently become a hot topic, with Etron chairman Nicky Lu stating that the current AI boom will drive continuous growth in the semiconductor sector over the next decade. He predicts the frenzied demand for memory triggered by AI will persist for at least six more months, while fundamental demand is expected to continue for 18 months. As a result, the entire memory industry is set for a prosperous 2026.
As China gears up for its Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, Chen Nanxiang, chairman of the China Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA) and YMTC, said the country's semiconductor industry must fast-track efforts to build a self-reliant supply chain, drive integration and upgrades, and advance into a new phase of growth. He identified five defining shifts reshaping the sector: segmentation, integration, optimisation, expansion, and deficiency.
The rapid growth in global AI infrastructure demand is driving intense business activity not only in advanced semiconductor supply chains and server system assembly but also causing a significant supply shortage in upstream PCB materials. This trend has become another highlight within Taiwan's electronics industry.
As Energy Taiwan and Net-Zero Taiwan 2025 open on October 29, Beijing has completed its second wave of export restrictions on lithium batteries and rare-earth materials. This move has jolted global clean-energy supply chains and forced industries worldwide to prepare for another round of structural reshuffling.
HBM continues to be a critical resource as the AI boom is further tightening supply and demand in the memory industry. Memory leader Samsung Electronics is fixated on reclaiming its dominance, reportedly launching a 30% price cut strategy in an attempt to catch up after delays in its 12-layer HBM3E certification.
The Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) held its annual meeting on October 23. Chairman and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) senior vice president and co-COO Cliff Hou emphasized that despite the challenges and changes in 2025, Taiwan's semiconductor industry continues to demonstrate strong resilience, adding that Taiwan's manufacturing sector remains a global leader, while its IC design output holds steady as the world's second largest.
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