US president Donald Trump predicts that within two years, the US will control 40-50% of the global chip market. He claims that major Taiwanese companies are establishing plants in the US because of his tariffs policy. Amid speculation that companies are fleeing Taiwan, Taiwanese government officials have repeatedly maintained that the makers are expanding overseas, demonstrating to the world their manufacturing capabilities.
Discussions regarding Nexperia's fate have stalled for over a month, and China and the Netherlands remain at odds. The Hague is plagued with political paralysis, where a caretaker cabinet is too weak to navigate a dispute with global supply chain stakes.
South Korea's top conglomerates are reshaping their leadership and internal structures. They are bracing for an uncertain 2026 business cycle. Samsung is integrating its group-wide management diagnostic office into Samsung Electronics. LG is preparing its own executive overhaul later this month.
Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) anticipates a mild slowdown in the fourth quarter of 2025 as seasonal demand eases and supply chain partners carry out year-end inventory checks.
Novatek Microelectronics, Taiwan's top display driver IC (DDI) supplier, held its earnings call with CEO Steve Wang outlining the company's market outlook. He said the stronger New Taiwan dollar, tariff uncertainties, and weak demand in consumer electronics and PCs have led panel makers to reduce capacity to keep prices steady, softening typical peak-season demand in the third quarter of 2025.
The ongoing surge in artificial intelligence (AI) investments has deepened the reliance of the four major US cloud service providers (CSPs) on Taiwan's AI chips and servers, significantly widening Taiwan's trade surplus with the US, according to Chien-yi Chang, president of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER).
Hua Hong Semiconductor, one of China's top wafer foundries, reported a steep profit drop for the first three quarters of 2025, citing higher costs from new production lines and rising R&D expenses. Third-quarter revenue rose 21.1% year-over-year to CNY4.566 billion (approx. US$640.9 million), while net profit plunged 43.5% to CNY177 million. For the first three quarters, revenue totalled CNY12.583 billion, up 19.8%, but profit tumbled 56.5% to CNY251 million.
Memory prices have sharply rebounded in the third quarter of 2025, supported by increases in both volume and unit prices, boosting financial results for leading memory module manufacturers. Companies including Transcend, Innodisk, and Apacer Technology reported substantial year-on-year and sequential growth in revenue and net profit.
Flexible printed circuit (FPC) manufacturer Flexium Interconnect said its challenging business transformation phase was approaching completion after a difficult 2025. The company highlighted growing momentum for orders related to its MetaLink technology, anticipating stronger performance in 2026.
Chinese AI chipmaker Cambricon Technologies is facing a massive legal battle. The company's former chief technology officer, Liang Jun, has filed a lawsuit seeking CNY4.3 billion (US$590 million) in compensation for losses tied to a share incentive plan.
Memory design IC firm AP Memory reported consolidated revenue of NT$1.495 billion (US$48.3 million) in the third quarter of 2025, up 17.3% year-over-year, driven by multiple interposers with silicon capacitor (S-SiCap) projects entering mass production. The company also set a new quarterly net profit record attributable to the parent at NT$706 million.
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