CONNECT WITH US
Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC hints at next-gen LPU bid, stokes speculation that Samsung's Groq order may not last
TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei disclosed at the company's first-quarter 2026 earnings call that the foundry is collaborating with a customer on next-generation LPU development —a remark that stopped short of naming Nvidia— but that supply chain observers widely read as signaling TSMC's intent to compete for the inference chip business currently manufactured by Samsung.
Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC enters 2nm mass production, scales 3nm capacity
TSMC laid out its capacity expansion plans and advanced node progress at its first quarter 2026 earnings call. Chairman C.C. Wei reaffirmed Taiwan as the primary base for leading-edge production, citing close coordination with its research and development teams.
Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC guides over 15% 2Q26 revenue growth, N3 margins set to top average
TSMC posted a record profit of NT$572.48 billion (US$18.06 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, marking another high in overall performance. For the second quarter of 2026, TSMC guided revenue between US$39 billion and US$42 billion, up 8.6% to 17% sequentially, or NT$1.236 trillion to NT$1.331 trillion at NT$31.7 per US dollar. Gross margin is forecast at 65.5%–67.5%, with operating margin at 56.5%–58.5%.
Thursday 16 April 2026
Taiwan analog IC firms show varied 1Q26 revenue; motor control and DDR5 PMIC drive growth
Taiwanese analog IC companies have recently released their full revenue figures for the first quarter of 2026, revealing mixed performances. Firms with rapidly growing new businesses or market share generally posted strong quarterly results.
Thursday 16 April 2026
EZconn posts 200% profit surge in March as high-fiber count shipments boost growth
Optical communication manufacturer EZconn announced a net profit after tax of NT$312 million (US$9.9 million) for March 2026, marking a 200% increase year on year and earnings per share (EPS) of NT$4.02. Including the previously reported January and February EPS of NT$2.3, the cumulative EPS for the first quarter of 2026 has reached NT$6.32.
Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC lifts full-year outlook above 30% as AI demand powers another record quarter
Fresh off a quarter in which it beat its own margin forecasts by a wide margin, TSMC issued second-quarter guidance that signals the AI-driven chip boom is accelerating rather than plateauing. The world's largest contract chipmaker projected a second quarter 2026 revenue of US$39-40.2 billion, which at the midpoint would represent roughly 9% sequential growth from the US$35.90 billion it just reported — and more than 50% above where it stood a year ago.
Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC 1Q26 earnings: AI demand sends profit up 58%, gross margin to all-time high
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported a first-quarter 2026 revenue of US$35.90 billion, a 40.6% jump from a year earlier, as insatiable demand for artificial intelligence (AI) processors pushed the world's largest contract chipmaker to its highest-ever gross margin.
Thursday 16 April 2026
Tesla AI5 tape-out signals dual sourcing with Samsung, TSMC

Tesla has finalized the design of its next-generation AI5 chip, marking a milestone in its in-house semiconductor development. CEO Elon Musk confirmed the tape-out in a post on X, saying the design has been sent to foundry partners for fabrication. Musk also said Tesla is developing follow-on processors, including AI6 and Dojo3.

Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC says Applied Materials and JSR form top-tier chipmaking team
Japanese materials giant JSR has established an advanced planarization process solution joint research center in Taiwan, with JSR representative director and CEO Hank Hori personally attending the launch. Also present were Derek Witty, general manager of Applied Materials; Erix Yu, President of Applied Materials Taiwan; and Simon Jang, vice president of Advanced Tool and Module Development of Technology Development under the R&D at TSMC.
Thursday 16 April 2026
ASE Holdings to acquire Innolux Fab 5 for US$460 million

ASE Holdings has secured Innolux's Fab 5, with the company announcing on April 15 that its semiconductor unit's board had approved the NT$14.85 billion (US$460 million) acquisition.

Thursday 16 April 2026
TSMC capex hits US$56 billion, reshaping global semiconductor supply chain
TSMC's capital expenditure has surged in recent years, with 2026 spending forecasted to reach a record US$52-56 billion and market expectations even suggesting an upward revision to US$70 billion. This staggering investment is creating a powerful magnetic effect across the semiconductor ecosystem.
Thursday 16 April 2026
ASML raises 2026 revenue guidance as AI-driven chip demand overwhelms supply — and its customers know it
The lithography giant's first quarter earnings call reveals more than a beat-and-raise quarter: it exposes a structural shift in how chipmakers relate to their sole EUV supplier
Thursday 16 April 2026
JSR restarts Taiwan production as TSMC dominates advanced nodes
Japanese photoresist leader JSR officially announced on April 15 the establishment of an advanced planarization process solutions research center in Hukou, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Thursday 16 April 2026
Spain aims to boost chip design, photonics, and quantum tech influence
The Spanish ICT Association (AMETIC) has been actively promoting Spain's standing in the domestic technology industry. Albert Anglarill, director of AMETIC's Catalonia office, said the organization primarily advocates for its member companies, facilitates information exchange, and expands their international visibility. Looking ahead, Spain is focusing on developing key sectors where it already has a solid foundation: chip design, photonics, and quantum computing.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Taiwan equipment makers ride advanced packaging and SiPh wave
Nvidia is accelerating the commercial rollout of silicon photonics (SiPh) technology, marked by the launch of its Rubin Ultra platform and the gradual establishment of co-packaged optics (CPO) architecture. This milestone signals a new technological turning point for the semiconductor industry.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
South Korea's 97.5% reliance on Israeli bromine puts chip supply chain at risk
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are stoking concerns over semiconductor materials supply chains, as key inputs such as helium and bromine face potential disruptions amid ongoing conflict in the region.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
ASML posts solid 1Q26 as AI-driven demand lifts outlook
ASML reported first-quarter 2026 results in line with expectations, signaling continued momentum from surging artificial intelligence (AI) demand and strengthening semiconductor industry fundamentals.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Southern Taiwan Science Park eyes US$94 billion on AI tailwinds
Riding the artificial intelligence (AI) boom and strong demand for advanced semiconductor processes, the Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) posted record-high revenue of NT$2.97 trillion (approx. US$94.13 billion) for 2025, up 34.26% from 2024. The figure fell just shy of the industry's original projection of NT$3 trillion, yet the park maintained its leading position among Taiwan's three major science parks.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Taiwan's AI chip dominance draws the global spotlight and scrutiny
Taiwan has emerged as the world's most consequential node in the AI supply chain — and the world is taking notice. Backed by TSMC's NT$53 trillion (US$1.67 trillion) market capitalization and a surge in AI-driven investment, the island's semiconductor industry now anchors global supply chains, capital flows, and financial stability in ways few anticipated. But as that concentration deepens, so do the questions: can Taiwan's tech-heavy economy absorb geopolitical shocks, monetary shifts, and energy risks without dragging global markets with it?
Wednesday 15 April 2026
China chip tool imports shift to Southeast Asia as US tightens export controls

China's imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment from Southeast Asia surged in 2025, surpassing direct shipments from the US, according to a Nikkei Asia analysis, as Washington moves to tighten export controls on advanced chipmaking tools.

Wednesday 15 April 2026
Samsung tipped to lead global chip profits as AI elevates memory, veteran exec predicts
Yoon-woo Lee, a semiconductor expert and former vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, believes Samsung may become the world's most profitable company by 2027–2028, driven by structural changes in the semiconductor value chain brought on by the rapid expansion of AI.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Taiwan races to shore up energy security as US shutters Strait of Hormuz
Following the US decision to block Iranian ports after failed negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance in Pakistan, tensions in the Middle East have escalated. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) Vice Minister Chien-Hsin Lai stated that, with 60% of Taiwan's crude oil imports coming from the US, diversifying import sources and adopting renewable energy options, advanced energy storage technologies, and deeper energy-saving measures are essential to bolstering Taiwan's energy resilience.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Global semiconductor equipment sales hit record US$135B in 2025 as AI-driven investment surges

Global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sales reached a record US$135.1 billion in 2025, rising 15% from US$117.1 billion in 2024, according to the latest data from SEMI. The growth reflects sustained industry investment in advanced logic, memory, and AI-driven capacity expansion, underscoring the accelerating buildout of semiconductor infrastructure worldwide.

Tuesday 14 April 2026
Samsung begins P4 equipment orders as 1c DRAM investment enters execution

Samsung Electronics has begun procuring semiconductor equipment for its P4 facility in Pyeongtaek, marking the transition of its planned 1c nanometer DRAM investment into the execution phase, according to South Korean media reports.

Tuesday 14 April 2026
Samsung Electro-Mechanics reportedly to expand AI packaging with MLCC embedded substrate line in Vietnam
As AI chips demand higher performance and denser integration, advanced packaging and substrate technologies have become critical in the semiconductor race. Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is reportedly establishing a new production line for multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) embedded semiconductor substrates at its Vietnam facility to strengthen its position in the AI semiconductor supply chain.