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Thursday 3 April 2025

CHPT targets record 2025 revenue on AI mobile chip surge

Chunghwa Precision Test Tech (CHPT) anticipates strong growth throughout 2025, driven by increasing demand for AI-driven high-performance computing and a key mobile application processor (AP) client set to begin mass production in the fourth quarter. President Scott Huang stated that CHPT aims to surpass its 2022 revenue peak and establish a new record.

Wednesday 2 April 2025

Trump's copper tariff threats send prices soaring and supply chains scrambling

Since assuming the US presidency, Donald Trump has rattled the precious metals market with threats of a 25% tariff on imported copper. This policy stance has spurred a frenzy, with companies hastening to ship copper into the US as a hedge, driving prices to unprecedented heights and impacting industries reliant on copper as a primary raw material, including copper-clad laminate (CCL) and lead frame suppliers.

Wednesday 2 April 2025

Talent shortage and operational challenges loom in Southeast Asia expansion for PCB industry

Looking ahead to 2025, the global PCB market is expected to maintain steady growth, driven by demand from AI servers and electric vehicles (EVs). As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global supply chains, the PCB industry is increasingly focusing on expanding operations in Southeast Asia, leading to a rising demand for international talent.

Tuesday 1 April 2025

Japan's Rapidus launches 2nm trial as MA-Tek's Hokkaido outpost signals surging demand

On April 1, Rapidus inaugurated its first semiconductor fabrication facility, IIM-1, in Chitose City, Hokkaido, marking a pivotal step in Japan's leap from 40nm technology to the cutting-edge 2nm process. Rapidus is spearheading Japan's ambition to restore its semiconductor manufacturing autonomy. The consortium includes elite talent from Renesas, Tokyo Electron (TEL), and international firms like United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), ensuring technological advancements and yield rates align with expectations.

Monday 31 March 2025

Taiwan and Japan expand joint research into next-gen compound semiconductors

To strengthen academic exchange and collaboration between Taiwan and Japan, the renowned Japanese research institute RIKEN has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to drive joint research in advanced scientific fields. Notably, the partnership will expand into next-generation compound semiconductor research starting in 2026.

Monday 31 March 2025

India launches electronics component incentive scheme

India is extending its push for electronics self-reliance beyond finished goods, approving a US$2.68 billion scheme targeting component manufacturing. This initiative aims to close a significant import gap, offering tailored incentives to boost domestic production and integrate India into the global electronics supply chain, addressing a critical need alongside existing Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) efforts.

Sunday 30 March 2025

What's the status of Thailand's tech supply chain after the earthquake?

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, March 28, rocking neighboring Thailand and prompting emergency measures in Bangkok. Despite the significant tremor, Taiwan-based tech manufacturers operating in Thailand reported minimal disruption to their supply chains and production lines.

Friday 28 March 2025

AI Expo 2025: PLAB Technology to bridge edge AI innovation and hardware through one-stop PCB solutions

As edge AI adoption accelerates, printed circuit boards (PCBs) play a crucial role in bridging AI and hardware. Serving as the foundation for electronic components, PCBs enable seamless integration of AI-driven applications. Taiwan-based PLAB Technology leverages its one-stop PCB expertise to support innovation across industries, from semiconductors to smart devices.

Friday 28 March 2025

Chinese expansion floods global UV curing materials market

Chinese manufacturers continue expanding production capacity for UV curing materials, creating market oversupply and triggering intense price competition across global markets. Despite these short-term challenges, industry leaders Eternal Materials and Qualipoly Chemical (QPC) remain optimistic about long-term prospects, citing the technology's energy efficiency and environmental advantages.

Friday 28 March 2025

PCB marker ACCL expands production to meet AI server demand amid market shifts

Allied Circuit (ACCL), a PCB manufacturer backed by Compal, is navigating a pivotal shift in the server market as traditional server demand wanes and AI servers gain dominance. By 2025, AI server orders are expected to constitute over half of ACCL's total server shipments, with this proportion set to rise further.

Friday 28 March 2025

Chinese SiC market slump has limited impact on ACME Electronics as company focuses on global expansion

Silicon carbide (SiC) supply chain prices have collapsed due to China's production capacity expansion, creating a challenging market environment for the first half of 2025, according to ACME Electronics General Manager Wen-Hao Wu. Despite these headwinds, ACME Electronics—which specializes in manganese-zinc/nickel-zinc soft ferrite cores and SiC powders—reports minimal impact due to its focus on markets outside China.

Friday 28 March 2025

Shibaura to meet with Yageo on April 2 over tender offer

Japan-based Shibaura Electronics has disclosed that it is preparing to hold a meeting on April 2 with Taiwan-based Yageo regarding the latter's proposed tender offer.

Friday 28 March 2025

Ex-finance minister of Taiwan joins Lelon board as independent director amid governance overhaul

Taiwan's Lelon Electronics has named former Finance Minister Christina Liu as an independent director, part of a full board shakeup finalized at its recent extraordinary shareholders meeting.

Friday 28 March 2025

Tariff turbulence looms—but AI server cooling stays hot

As global supply chains navigate renewed US-China trade tensions, Topco Technologies Corp. is capitalizing on a surge in demand for AI server thermal materials—one of the few areas showing clear momentum amid broader market uncertainty.

Thursday 27 March 2025

Eternal Materials seizes opportunities in UV curing materials

Eternal Materials is optimistic about the growth trend in curing materials and continues to expand production lines. The company's Suzhou plant, with a capacity of 10,000 tons, is expected to be operational by June 2025, primarily targeting expansion in applications within China. By mid-2025, the total production capacity for curing materials is projected to increase from 120,000 tons to 130,000 tons.

Thursday 27 March 2025

Inergy sees growth in 2Q25 as AI server cooling fans ramp up

The chairman of IC design house Inergy, John Lin, stated that the growth momentum in the server and energy storage sectors is promising. The company has successfully entered the supply chain for AI server cooling fan driver ICs, which are expected to gradually ramp up production in the second quarter of 2025, driving overall gross profit growth. He maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook on industry development for 2025.

Thursday 27 March 2025

Substrate and materials suppliers in CoWoS supply chain working to close capacity gaps

Nvidia's high-end AI server, the GB200, is facing challenges due to technical bottlenecks and material supply issues. Industry sources report that key materials used for chip substrates are in short supply due to insufficient production capacity from Japanese suppliers, raising concerns regarding future shipment schedules. However, Taiwan Glass, a major player in the glass manufacturing industry, recently announced that it has successfully overcome the capacity gap.

Thursday 27 March 2025

Positive outlook for quantum computing; academic and research initiatives poised to propel Taiwan forward

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently revised his earlier skepticism about the potential of quantum computing, now acknowledging its potential to enhance Nvidia's chip sales through synergies with classical computing. As the significance of quantum computing grows, Taiwan is ramping up its efforts in quantum research, backed by major government support and groundbreaking projects, positioning the country as a key player in the next wave of technological advancements.

Thursday 27 March 2025

Demand for capacitors in servers to quadruple by 2029, say Japan analysts

The growth of AI data centers is expected to drive surging demand for capacitors used in servers, with the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) predicting in its latest report a fourfold increase in demand by 2029 compared to 2023 levels.

Wednesday 26 March 2025

PCB firms see AI and networking demand drive growth in 2Q25

Entering the second quarter of 2025, Taiwanese PCB manufacturers have exhibited optimism on market recovery, propelled by persistent demand from high-end applications, including AI servers and satellite communications, as well as the expedited adoption of edge AI devices. This trend is expected to enhance order visibility for high-layer count, high-speed, and high-frequency PCBs, according to industry sources.

Tuesday 25 March 2025

Japanese PCB maker Meiko to join satellite supply chain, challenging Taiwan's dominance

Japan's Meiko is set to become the third supplier in the low-Earth orbit satellite market by 2025, challenging the dominance of Taiwanese manufacturers Compeq and Unitech as geopolitical tensions drive supply chain diversification.

Monday 24 March 2025

Shinko Electric to delist in June, eye DNP and Mitsui Chemicals partnership on backend process materials

The Japan Innovation Network (JIC) has completed the tender offer for shares of Shinko Electric Industries, a Fujitsu subsidiary specializing in IC substrates, and the company is expected to be delisted by mid-June 2025.

Monday 24 March 2025

Disruption Index 2025: Automotive sector hit hardest, parts costs surpass tariff concerns

In 2025, the automotive industry is projected to surpass healthcare, technology, and financial services for the first time to become the sector most impacted by disruptive changes globally, making it face the most significant transformation, according to the latest Disruption Index 2025 report by consulting firm AlixPartners.

Friday 21 March 2025

Apple supplier Wingtech offloads ODM assets to Luxshare in semiconductor pivot

Luxshare Precision Industry announced on March 20 that it will acquire core assets from Wingtech Technology's consumer electronics system integration unit. The all-cash deal, executed via its subsidiary Luxshare Communication, aligns with Luxshare's broader strategy to expand global operations and enhance vertical integration in the electronics manufacturing ecosystem.

Friday 21 March 2025

Chinese PCB material price hikes force Taiwan CCL makers to follow suit

Several Chinese suppliers of crucial PCB components, including copper-clad laminate (CCL) and glass fiber fabric, have recently announced price increases in response to global supply chain volatility and rising raw material costs. Taiwanese companies are expected to follow suit, according to industry sources.

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