TSMC's US investment of US$100 billion is sparking concerns about Taiwan's national security and potential talent and technology drain. Taiwanese officials have reassured that advanced processes will stay domestic until at least 2026. They highlighted that restrictions on advanced technologies mainly target China, not the US.
Tong Hsing Electronic, a semiconductor packaging service and substrate provider, has forecast a mid single-digit quarter-over-quarter decline in revenue for the first quarter of 2025 due to seasonal weakness. Looking ahead to the full year, Tong Hsing president Heinz Lu pointed out that due to geopolitical factors, automotive customers remain conservative. But he is optimistic about the future growth momentum for ceramic substrate modules and the fiber optic communications segment in the RF module product line.
RichWave Technology, a leading Taiwanese RF front-end chip manufacturer, reports that the adoption rate of Wi-Fi 7 is rapidly increasing, with major global telecom operators poised to enter mass production in the second quarter of 2025. This momentum is expected to intensify by the third quarter, driven by the proactive stance of these operators.
Microchip Technology is undergoing significant restructuring in response to a downturn in the automotive chip market. The company has announced the layoff of approximately 2,000 employees, representing 9% of its total workforce. The layoffs will affect facilities in the US, Philippines, and other locations, with particular impact on its Gresham Fab 4 in Oregon, Fab 5 in Colorado Springs, and backend manufacturing plant in the Philippines. These workforce reductions are part of a broader plan to reduce operating costs as the automotive chip sector faces challenges.
Following C. C. Wei, the chairman and CEO of TSMC, being invited to the White House to announce substantial investments in the US, questions have emerged regarding whether TSMC had previously received verbal approval from Taiwan's high-level government officials for this overseas expansion.
Taiwan-based Elan Microelectronics, a major provider of touch controller chip solutions, has disclosed that significant order momentum for product lines offering high gross profits boosted both revenue and gross profit margins in 2024. The company is cautiously optimistic about the market in 2025.
The US government office responsible for a marquee US$52 billion chip subsidy program will lose about two-fifths of its staff as President Donald Trump slashes the federal workforce, according to people familiar with the matter.
Singapore is investigating whether Dell Technologies Inc. and Super Micro Computer Inc. servers shipped to Malaysia housed Nvidia Corp. chips barred from China, outlining a case that's highlighted the role of middlemen in funneling high-end semiconductors.
IC testing firm Ardentec anticipates sequential revenue growth through the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by a consistent rise in demand for AI and HPC device applications. The company has also begun to benefit from orders rerouted due to the US's new BIS whitelist policy.
After TSMC announced an additional investment of US$100 billion in the US, complementing its initial US$65 billion commitment, Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee stated that the government welcomes actions that bolster Taiwan's global industry presence and competitiveness, anticipating mutual benefits with allied countries.
Malaysia announced Arm Holdings Plc's imminent deal to establish a base in Malaysia, highlighting the importance of political stability and transparent policies. However, the country's talent outflow challenges the plan, despite efforts under the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and a commitment of MYR25 billion (approx. US$5.6 billion) to bolster semiconductor industry training.
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