The semiconductor industry is witnessing significant shifts influenced by geopolitical considerations. One recent case exemplifying this trend is King Yuan Electronics's (KYEC) sale of 90% equity in its China subsidiary Jinglong Technology (Suzhou) for approximately CNY48.85 billion (about US$675 million).
Microsoft Corp. will invest $1.7 billion to build out cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Indonesia, betting on Southeast Asia's biggest economy to spur growth.
Notebook production in Vietnam has increased dramatically, making the country the second largest source of imports to the US behind China, according to government sources.
Taiwan's major NAND controller manufacturer Phison Electronics has decided to establish a startup company, MaiStorage, with an investment of MYR 100 million (US$21.09 million).
King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) decided to sell its assets in China, another Taiwan-based OSAT major leaving China, as the US-China geopolitical tensions are reshaping the OSAT industry.
Smart wearable and GPS giant Garmin has decided to expand its production into Southeast Asia as part of its long-term strategy for the next 10-20 years, with initial production lines in Thailand to focus on automotive navigation OEM products.
Malaysia aims to move beyond the packaging and testing industry into the chip design sector along the semiconductor supply chain by announcing Southeast Asia's largest IC design park.
Taiwan's PCB and semiconductor equipment manufacturers are poised to enhance their footprint in Southeast Asia by establishing manufacturing operations or bolstering their customer base in the region.
The international maritime logistics sector has faced multiple challenges, including the 2023 Red Sea crisis and the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. The regional tension has also alerted automotive suppliers, who are monitoring potential disruptions.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently concluded his most extensive Southeast Asia (SEA) tour in years, visiting Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore from April 15-19.
The automotive sector is now projected to see negative growth in 2024, with rumblings in the supply chain ever since the beginning of the year, and TSMC lowering its expectations at its recent earnings call.