DIGITIMES Asia news

Friday 20 March 2026

Samsung reportedly secures OpenAI HBM4 supply deal, shifts foundry capacity

Samsung Electronics is reportedly set to exclusively supply sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) to OpenAI while reallocating more than half of its advanced foundry capacity to internal production, according to Hankyung and industry sources. The move underscores the South Korean chipmaker's drive to meet surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) components as orders from major customers — including Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) — continue to accelerate

Malaysia chipmakers monitor helium supply risks as Middle East tensions weigh Qatar output

Friday 20 March 2026

Samsung foundry shows signs of stabilization as Nvidia, Tesla orders underscore AI chip capabilities

Friday 20 March 2026

Analysis: Supermicro co-founder's GTC star turn ends in federal indictment

Friday 20 March 2026

Samsung reportedly ceasing TriFold smartphone sales

Friday 20 March 2026

LATEST STORIES

Friday 20 March 2026

Analog Devices activates Thailand plant to boost global manufacturing resilience

Analog Devices has officially launched its advanced manufacturing facility in Thailand, aiming to enhance the company's advanced manufacturing and testing capabilities while promoting a more resilient and sustainable semiconductor production footprint across the Asia-Pacific region

Friday 20 March 2026

Samsung plans over KRW110 trillion investment in AI semiconductor facilities and R&D for 2026

Samsung Electronics announced it will invest more than KRW110 trillion (approx. US$73.4 billion) in facilities and R&D by 2026 to secure a leading position in the AI semiconductor era. This marks the first time its annual investment surpasses the "KRW100 trillion" threshold

Friday 20 March 2026

Lynas's samarium oxide debut in Malaysia strengthens supply chain alternative to China

Lynas Rare Earths has achieved first production of samarium oxide at Lynas Malaysia, expanding its range of separated heavy rare earth oxides to three and reinforcing its status as the only commercial producer of separated HRE oxides outside China, developments that could affect global supply chains for high-performance magnets and advanced technologies

Friday 20 March 2026

Tencent leverages WeChat ecosystem to lead AI agent race in China

Tencent's rapid rollout of agentic AI across WeChat could reshape the competitive dynamics of Chinese AI, with potential implications for global markets given WeChat's 1.4 billion users and integrations across communication, payments, content, and services, possibly accelerating AI agent adoption and raising questions about competitors' responses and timing

Friday 20 March 2026

Scaling the final frontier: Supply chain strategies from Paris Space Week 2026

With a sharp focus on "New Space" industrialization, Paris Space Week 2026 (PSW) highlights a critical shift: the space industry is moving away from bespoke, low-volume "lab work" toward high-volume, standardized manufacturing. For the tech supply chain — particularly electronics and semiconductor players — this evolution represents a massive market opening, provided they can navigate the new requirements of digital transparency and cyber-resilience

Friday 20 March 2026

India's Reliance signs 15-year green ammonia offtake deal with Samsung C&T

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has signed a binding long-term supply and purchase agreement (SPA) with Samsung C&T Corporation for the supply of green ammonia over 15 years, commencing in the second half of fiscal year 2029. Valued at more than US$3 billion, RIL describes it as one of the largest binding green ammonia offtake agreements in the world

Friday 20 March 2026

Supermicro co-founder charged in US$2.5 billion AI chip smuggling scheme to China

US Federal prosecutors have charged a co-founder of Super Micro Computer Inc. (Supermicro) and two associates in a massive conspiracy to illegally divert billions of dollars worth of restricted AI technology to China

Friday 20 March 2026

Alibaba's AI and cloud growth cushions slowing earnings but raises profit questions

Alibaba Group reported modest overall revenue growth while disclosing a sharp fall in operating income, underlining a tension between investment-led expansion in AI and near-term profitability

Friday 20 March 2026

Volkswagen signals shift away from Nvidia as Chinese chips gain ground

Recent reports suggest that Volkswagen may move away from relying on Nvidia's automotive computing platforms, instead increasingly integrating Chinese-made chips into its vehicles

Friday 20 March 2026

India mandates domestic sourcing of solar wafers under expanded approval list policy

India has expanded its domestic content framework for solar manufacturing, extending the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) regime to cover upstream components such as ingots and wafers, in a move aimed at reducing import dependence and strengthening supply chain resilience

Friday 20 March 2026

Apple CEO visits China at 50th anniversary event to strengthen supply chain

Apple CEO Tim Cook has officially kicked off his 2026 Asia tour with a visit to China, attending the company's 50th anniversary celebration at the Chengdu Taikoo Li Apple Store. The event featured concerts and consumer interactions aimed at reinforcing brand loyalty as part of the ongoing efforts to solidify Apple's supply chain in the region

Friday 20 March 2026

China's AI robot industry surges on market freedom and strategic autonomy

Despite lacking the industrial legacy of Japan and Germany, China has rapidly built its AI robotics sector into a formidable force, posing as a subtle challenge to US technological dominance. Tien-Chong Cheng, chairman of Aurotek, attributes this swift growth to two key drivers: maintaining high market competition and freedom, and allowing the industry itself to shape development strategies

Thursday 19 March 2026

Samsung Electro-Mechanics rumored to supply MLCCs to top private aerospace firm

Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) is reportedly supplying multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to the world's largest private aerospace company. According to industry sources, this expansion from the automotive and industrial sectors into aerospace is a significant step for the company, as it demonstrates that its components have gained global recognition for durability and reliability

Thursday 19 March 2026

Fitipower opens Malaysia R&D center to boost global innovation and support

Fitpower officially inaugurated its new office in Puchong Financial Corporate Center (PFCC), Selangor, Malaysia, this week, marking the launch of its Malaysian subsidiary. The move expands Fitipower's global R&D footprint and deepens collaboration within Southeast Asia's semiconductor supply chain

Thursday 19 March 2026

China curbs, Middle East tensions drive surge in chip material risks from gallium to helium

Global semiconductor supply chains are facing rising pressure as Middle East geopolitical tensions and China's tightening export controls on strategic minerals converge, pushing up prices for key materials and raising uncertainty over critical industrial gas supplies, according to Chosun Biz and Reuters

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