Ahead of TSMC's earnings call, DIGITIMES senior analyst Luke Lin explained that TSMC typically does not revise its full-year revenue forecast or capital expenditure during its first-quarter earnings announcement. If adjustments are needed, TSMC usually waits until July. That is when second-quarter results and third-quarter guidance are released, giving the company a firmer basis for any revisions.

AI GPUs, CPUs, and ASICs are driving demand for increasingly larger sizes and higher layer counts in substrate technology. The supply-demand gap for high-end ABF substrates continues to widen, and over the next three years, the industry is expected to enter a capacity expansion cycle.

As artificial intelligence chips increasingly migrate to advanced manufacturing nodes, the complexity — and duration — of semiconductor testing is rising sharply. That shift is fueling surging demand for Taiwan's test interface suppliers, whose businesses are climbing in tandem with the AI boom.

India's notification of a special economic zone in Dholera for the country's first chip fabrication plant marks a potential turning point in global semiconductor supply chains, promising a new manufacturing hub that could attract investment, create skilled jobs, and reduce import dependence — part of a broader international effort to diversify electronics production worldwide.

China semiconductor equipment maker Naura Technology delivered strong 2025 revenue growth on rising chip tool demand and domestic substitution, but weaker margins and intensifying competition signal a tougher next phase.

South Korean AI semiconductor startup DeepX has entered mass production and supply for its in-house neural processing unit (NPU), the DX-M1, as it seeks to scale revenue amid tightening wafer capacity and rising memory costs. The company said it has secured more than 30 purchase orders and is targeting US$40 million in revenue in 2026, supported by demand for low-power, cost-efficient AI chips.

On April 17, Security Times reported that Beijing New Space-time Technology (Time Space Technology) plans to acquire Shenzhen-based memory module maker Powev Electronic Technology for CNY1.078 billion (US$158 million), marking its official entry into the semiconductor storage sector. The report noted that the deal represents a strategic transformation for the company as it seeks to move away from its traditional night-time economy and smart city businesses, which have been under sustained pressure from macroeconomic headwinds and tightening local government budgets.

Google is accelerating efforts to strengthen its position in AI silicon through a potential partnership with Marvell Technology. It is making a move that highlights the competitive strategy against Nvidia: dominating AI inference workloads.

As global research institutions downgrade their economic forecasts for 2026 in the wake of the joint US-Israel strikes on Iran, Taiwan has stood out as a rare exception to the worldwide downturn. Even with oil and natural gas prices surging amid shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, Taiwan's economy grew by 13.19% in the first quarter of 2026, following an impressive 8.68% growth in 2025. Meanwhile, consumer price index (CPI) inflation is expected to stay at a low 1.98%, thanks to government intervention.

Spanish optical inspection startup Wooptix officially unveiled its first inspection system, Phemet, in November 2025. The company stated that its first-generation prototype has already undergone testing and collaboration with European research institutions and major wafer manufacturers. Moving forward, the system will be further refined based on customer requirements.

Odisha broke ground on India's first advanced 3D chip packaging unit on April 19, 2026, a move that could reshape global semiconductor supply chains by adding high-end heterogeneous integration capacity in South Asia, attracting investment for aerospace, defense, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and data center applications, and creating jobs.