Samsung Electronics Co.'s quarterly profit beat expectations after strong demand for its Galaxy S25 smartphones and legacy DRAM outpaced slipping margins in the high-stakes AI memory arena
The global electronics industry is bracing for significant disruption after implementing new baseline and reciprocal tariffs announced on April 2. Experts predict that smartphones, personal computers, and servers will be among the first sectors to feel the immediate impact, prompting major manufacturers like Foxconn to adjust their operational strategies rapidly
On March 29, a Xiaomi SU7 operating in Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) mode crashed on a highway in Anhui Province, killing three college-aged passengers. Despite detecting an obstacle and initiating braking, the vehicle collided with a roadside barrier at 97 km/h. The deadly crash quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms
Although China's automobile industry has overtaken its competitors on the global stage, the industry itself is suffering from ever-increasing internal competition, with supply chain players pointing to homogeneity as the main culprit
On April 2, 2025, US President Donald Trump unveiled his reciprocal tariff policy, sparking a global stock market rout. Taiwan's stock market, reopening after the Qingming holiday, could not escape the ripple effects, experiencing its steepest one-day decline in recent years. The Taiwan Stock Exchange fell by 2,086.2 points, equating to a 9.8% drop, as investor confidence was shaken by heightened trade tensions
As the trade friction and technology war between China and the US continue to intensify, on April 5, 2025, China announced an antitrust investigation into American chemical giant DuPont. Not only is it rare for China to target foreign players in the chemical sector, but this action is also seen as Beijing's response to the recent increase in tariffs and export controls imposed by the US
Nvidia's H20 chip—originally designed for the Chinese market to comply with US export rules—has unexpectedly surged in demand. A spike in AI infrastructure projects, spearheaded by DeepSeek and fueled by major Chinese tech firms, has rendered the chip increasingly scarce
China's incentive program to boost consumption has triggered TV replacement demand starting in the second half of 2024. Although overall demand has slowed recently, the ultra large TV segment still sees significant momentum, with shipments possibly reaching 10 million units in 2025
Television brands started pulling in LCD panel orders in the fourth quarter of 2024 to get ahead of US tariffs under Donald Trump's trade policies and to benefit from China's appliance trade-in program. The frontloading continued into early 2025, making the first quarter unusually strong for what's typically a slow season
SiCarrier, once a little-known name in China's chip sector, has jolted the semiconductor industry with bold claims of breakthroughs in photolithography—a field long ruled by global leaders like ASML. At SEMICON China, the company touted five major platforms and pitched its technology as rivaling top-tier international equipment, positioning itself as a new force in China's drive for chipmaking self-sufficiency
Apple CEO Tim Cook committed to bringing manufacturing back to the US with a US$500 billion investment. Yet, this move seemingly failed to earn Apple any exemption from tariffs. On April 2, US President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs ranging from 26% to 54% on China, India, and Vietnam, all major Apple production bases
In late March 2025, Kumamoto Prefecture unveiled the Kumamoto Science Park Promotion Vision, a plan to build a semiconductor-centered science park alongside a broader innovation ecosystem. The initiative seeks to establish a public-private industrial base that promotes collaboration among semiconductor companies, research institutions, and advanced tech firms
The US has intensified tariffs on Chinese lithium battery materials, beginning with the Inflation Reduction Act under the Biden administration and continuing with President Trump's reciprocal tariffs. With combined tax rates now exceeding 80% for Chinese exports to the US, the global supply chain landscape is shifting dramatically
Ichia Technologies, a Taiwanese manufacturer of mechanical components and flexible printed circuits, projects continued growth in 2025, driven by new supply relationships with Nintendo and expanding automotive sector demand, despite global market uncertainties
TCL has finalized its acquisition of LG Display's LCD manufacturing plant in Guangzhou, China, officially renaming it "T11" under the management of its subsidiary, TCL China Star Optoelectronics (TCL CSOT). Production at the facility is already underway, strengthening TCL's position in the global display market
