In recent years, industry digitalization has emerged as a vital driver of corporate transformation. S.W. Du, CEO of Synnex Technology International, highlights that adopting digital technologies allows precise monitoring of sales performance and inventory levels, streamlining production and sales coordination. This approach minimizes resource waste and inefficiencies, optimizing overall supply chain efficiency.

President-elect Donald Trump has announced his plan to name Howard Lutnick, a prominent China critic, as Secretary of Commerce. Lutnick will oversee the management of US tariffs and trade policies.

While Nvidia's latest financial report garnered attention for its strong earnings, the focal point was its declining gross margin. This trend extends to ODM firms, with both Foxconn and Quanta - pioneers in GB200 server shipments - reporting margin declines in the third quarter of 2024.

LG Electronics is reportedly planning to establish a third plant in India, continuing its recent production expansions in the country. The move aligns with the company's potential IPO of its Indian subsidiary, signaling its commitment to growth in the region.

On November 19, Foxconn announced that it had successfully obtained the qualification as the best applicant for the Kaohsiung Metro Y15 Station land development project. The company aims to continue local maritime culture and build a world-class landmark on the site, where Foxconn's flagship headquarters in southern Taiwan will be located.

Jiang-song Fu, chairman of IC distributor Professional Computer Technology (PCT), projected 2024 to be the trough for their operations. Despite this, the company expects to remain profitable. He highlighted that the AI trend is set to drive substantial growth for various IoT products, including automotive electronics, over 2025-2026.

Xiaomi CEO Jun Lei recently announced the company's strongest-ever quarterly performance, a remarkable achievement given China's current economic climate. However, challenges are emerging for the tech giant.

Taiwanese IT product manufacturers expect AI server demand to drive their growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, as consumer electronics enters the traditional low season. Looking forward to 2025, the manufacturers expect even stronger orders, with AI servers showing the strongest momentum, followed by AI PCs, while automotive electronics will also be a major growth driver.

Following reports about Foxconn's alleged recruitment practices in India, which excluded married women, the company reportedly has requested third-party human resources firms to stop referencing marital status, age, and gender in recruitment advertisements. Additionally, Foxconn decided to no longer use its name in these ads to avoid negative publicity.

Trump's return to the presidency has drawn significant attention, with his potential appointments already creating waves across the global tech industry. The impact has extended to currency markets as monetary policy tensions between Trump and the Federal Reserve emerged. Bitcoin, known for its sensitivity to market shifts, surged by more than 15%, reaching an all-time high.

Foxconn, collaborating with Nvidia, is leveraging digital twin technology to revolutionize manufacturing and supply chain management. The initiative uses Nvidia's Omniverse to streamline global factory operations, enhance resilience, and ensure consistent quality.

Despite recording over US$1 billion in profits during the third quarter of 2023 and thriving in the AI market with double-digit growth, AMD recently announced a 4% workforce reduction, affecting approximately 1,000 of its 26,000 employees. The company states these cuts aim to align resources with growth opportunities, particularly in AI, suggesting a potential reallocation of resources to better compete with Nvidia's GPU dominance.

Trump's "America First" agenda will remain central in his imminent second term, with reindustrialization, trade protectionism, corporate tax cuts, and stricter immigration policies at the core. However, Trump 2.0 is expected to take a more radical approach than his first term.

Following a five-year hiatus, Hiwin resumed its in-person earnings call, providing an updated outlook for 2025. The company expects increased economic clarity post-US presidential election, projecting strong growth momentum in the US market. End markets such as semiconductors, aerospace, and infrastructure are expected to perform favorably, while the automotive sector is anticipated to remain comparatively soft.

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, the electronics industry is actively relocating production, with many companies adopting a "China+1" strategy. These diversification efforts, however, face significant logistical challenges, according to Taiwan-based Dimerco International Logistics Group.

The rise of generative AI is reshaping the global technology landscape, putting Taiwan's critical role in the spotlight while geopolitical tensions threaten to fragment the semiconductor supply chain. According to DIGITIMES Research, Taiwan controls up to 90% of AI server manufacturing capacity by 2025, making it an indispensable player in enabling the AI revolution.

India is estimated to require 1 million jobs in the semiconductor industry. India-based electronics manufacturers will likely benefit from President-Elect Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Tata Electronics has reportedly agreed to acquire a majority stake in Pegatron's iPhone manufacturing facility in India. This move is part of Apple's suppliers' efforts to prepare for potential changes in the global supply chain following Donald Trump's win in the US presidential election. Concerns about possible disruptions have led companies to strategically adjust their operations to mitigate any negative effects.

Semiconductor Week in Review (Nov 10 - 16): In a week dominated by seismic shifts in the semiconductor landscape, TSMC's suspension of sub-7nm chip supply to Chinese AI firms and postponement of its Arizona fab opening bookended a series of industry-reshaping developments, as geopolitical tensions continue to redraw the global tech supply chain map.

Despite existing incentives for local IT hardware production, India is reportedly planning to introduce stricter policies requiring PC and notebook manufacturers to reduce imports and increase domestic manufacturing.

Global supply chains are accelerating their decoupling processes as geopolitical tensions persist, according to DIGITIMES vice president Eric Huang at the recent Tech Forum 2025. Taiwan's technology sector looks to capitalize on AI opportunities while planning for sustainable growth.

Compal expects modest PC market growth in 2025, supported by the Windows 10 end-of-life transition and increasing AI PC adoption. The company is also making strides in the AI server market, with Chairman Ray Chen expressing confidence in becoming a supplier for Nvidia-powered AI servers.

Taiwan continues to capitalize on opportunities for contract manufacturing of cutting-edge technology products as the trade disputes between the US and China intensify. The unrestricted access to the most advanced equipment and materials in the semiconductor industry enables Taiwan to produce products that are unparalleled in terms of technological advancements.

Hon Hai (Foxconn) achieved record-breaking revenue of NT$1.85 trillion (US$56.77 billion) in the third quarter of 2024, while revenue for the first three quarters reached NT$4.7 trillion (US$144.22 billion), according to data released during the company's quarterly earnings call on November 14.

Taiwan-based server original design manufacturers (ODMs) anticipate a significant surge in AI server sales by 2025. However, the rapid increase in sales has led to higher accounts receivable and inventory levels, making financial endurance crucial for these companies.