Taiwan's first-ever strike in the semiconductor industry has temporarily drawn to a close. A 24-hour warning strike spearheaded by Micron Technology's Taoyuan union concluded on the morning of October 23, 2026. During the action, an internal ballot saw nearly 70% of all union members sign statements opposing management's proposed compensation structure. Formal labor-management negotiations are set to resume on October 27.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is gaining pricing power as AI server demand extends multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) lead times beyond a year. Shortages now span consumer, automotive and industrial products, prompting customers to secure 2027 supplies.
Israeli security firm Lava identified 32 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra B300 GPUs through monitoring endpoints linked to China Telecom, a state-owned carrier. The chips are barred from sale to China under US export controls. The finding adds to questions about whether the restrictions can keep advanced AI processors out of the country, but the network data does not establish where the GPUs are physically located.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned two electronic devices from entering the US market because both contain surveillance chips made by Huawei's HiSilicon. The move marks the first time the FCC has used a new rule targeting devices whose chipmakers are deemed national security risks.
Samsung Electronics has ordered additional equipment to fill the remaining space at its first foundry fab in Taylor, Texas, a move that would lift the plant's 2nm capacity to 20,000 wafers per month in the second half of 2027, ZDNet Korea reported on October 23, citing industry sources.
TSMC's Longtan Science Park Phase 3 in Taoyuan is restarting after nearly three years of delays, with Taiwan's National Development Council approving its development plan on September 17, 2026. The 104.65-hectare site is expected to focus first on advanced packaging technologies such as CoPoS, joining TSMC's Chiayi AP7 and Southern Taiwan Science Park AP8 facilities as the company expands capacity to meet surging AI demand.
Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi said the Japanese chipmaker remains broadly on track to begin mass production of 2nm chips in the second half of 2027. Winning customers remains a key challenge, and initial demand is expected to come mainly from the United States, where demand related to artificial intelligence is strong.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Intel a waiver to its ban on foreign-made mobile robots, which will allow it to update its fleet of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs). Intel had earlier petitioned the agency for an exemption, saying that not doing so would threaten chip production in the country.
JCET Group lifted third-quarter revenue 13.53% year-over-year to CNY11.43 billion (approx. US$1.71 billion) and net profit attributable to shareholders 59.99% to CNY773 million. For the first nine months of 2026, revenue rose 7.96% to CNY30.95 billion, while net profit climbed 69.58% to CNY1.62 billion. Profit excluding non-recurring gains and losses increased 99.17% to CNY1.56 billion.
The US Department of Commerce has signed letters of intent with four companies to provide up to US$389 million in federal research and development awards under the CHIPS and Science Act, targeting the semiconductors and materials used to control, convert, and deliver power. The department announced the agreements on October 22, 2026.
Tesla and Nvidia are reportedly investing a combined KRW3.7 trillion (US$2.8 billion) to help Samsung Electro-Mechanics expand Ajinomoto Build-up Film (ABF) substrate production facilities in South Korea. The move reflects growing efforts by global technology companies to secure stable supplies of high-performance semiconductor substrates for AI applications.
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