China's outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) sector is accelerating capacity expansion and technology upgrades, with leading players ramping investment to capture rising demand from AI, high-performance computing (HPC), and automotive electronics

Samsung Electronics is beginning to see early signs of stabilization in its Visual Display (VD) and Digital Appliances (DA) divisions, after a period of underperformance. Market estimates suggest the two units have narrowed their losses, with some businesses potentially returning to profitability, helping lift overall results. Yet surging logistics costs and intensifying price competition from Chinese rivals continue to weigh on margins

According to sources familiar with the matter, Samsung is in discussions with the Vietnamese government to establish an IC testing facility, which could become the company's second overseas backend semiconductor site outside South Korea after China. Bloomberg also reported that Samsung is planning a phased investment of about US$4 billion in Vietnam, underscoring its continued expansion in Southeast Asia

As the US and China compete for leadership in humanoid robotics, Taiwan faces a critical decision about how to position itself in the industry's next phase. Experts say future robotics development will hinge on the integration of hardware, computing power, and ecosystems. Taiwanese firms, with established strengths in AI hardware, are expected to serve as key partners to the US, while their role in the humanoid robotics supply chain could begin to take shape within five years

Industry sources report that the recent supply concerns over semiconductor-grade helium triggered by the US-Iran conflict have eased, as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix secured long-term contracts ensuring stable access to the critical gas