FIC Global, Inc. (FICG), a leading optical communication module provider, is accelerating its Southeast Asia expansion as momentum builds around the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). The company has announced plans to establish a new production base in Johor, Malaysia, to meet customer demands for diversified manufacturing locations and capitalize on the zone's first-mover benefits.
The recent acquisitions will enhance Walsin Technology's production capabilities, expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia while meeting the growing demand for advanced server and telecom components.
Applied Materials, Lam Research, and KLA each generated 31.3%, 31%, and 36% of their revenue from China in 2024, according to recent filings. As mature-node wafer fab capacity expands, China has overtaken the US as the largest market.
Samsung Electronics reportedly submitted a statement to the US Department of Commerce (DOC), warning that American sanctions targeting China's advanced technology could lead to "unintended consequences" and hinder innovation.
Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics has adopted a cautious stance on expanding its production of power semiconductors for electric vehicles (EVs). During its earnings briefing on April 24, company president Hidetoshi Shibata revealed that the planned mass production at the Kofu plant in Yamanashi Prefecture, initially expected to begin in 2025, will move forward without a set schedule due to significant uncertainty in market demand.
Global Brands Manufacture, a PCB manufacturer under Passive System Alliance (PSA), is advancing its Asian expansion strategy following the acquisition of Japanese PCB maker Lincstech, according to Elna's General Manager Ian Yang.
In April 2024, Jensen Huang participated in a critical gathering at a five-star hotel in Beijing, which would determine whether Nvidia could continue its operations in the Chinese market. Known as the "AI godfather," the Silicon Valley legend now finds himself at a geopolitical crossroads. Looking back over the past 30 years, his story in China unfolds like a trilogy intertwining business, politics, ideals, and reality.
These are the top-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from the week of April 21 – April 27.
Taiwanese software and IT service providers are expanding across Southeast Asia as manufacturers relocate operations from China, creating new regional opportunities in the shifting global supply chain landscape.
China is pushing forward a major consolidation plan to restructure its fragmented semiconductor equipment sector, reportedly cutting more than 200 domestic firms down to just 10 core players. The initiative aims to sharpen national competitiveness and accelerate self-sufficiency amid intensifying US sanctions under President Donald Trump.
Amid preparations by the US to introduce new tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, concerns are growing within Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain. On April 22, 2025, Premier Cho Jung-tai spoke to lawmakers, stating that the Executive Yuan had officially protested the US method of calculating reciprocal tariffs, labeling it unreasonable. He also noted that Taiwan's government has approved an extensive support package for the industries impacted and plans to continue adjusting these measures to better suit the sector's changing requirements.
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