Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) has achieved satisfactory results from applying AI to detect defects on packaging lines following nine months of efforts, according to KH Wan, director of technology development at the Taiwan-based semiconductor backend service provider.

US-headquartered companies held 52% of the total worldwide IC market in 2018, followed by their fellow South Korea-based companies with a 27% share, according to IC Insights.

TSMC will soon enter volume shipments for new Xilinx adaptive compute acceleration processors manufactured using 7nm process technology, according to industry sources.

GCL System Integration Technology (GCLSI) is looking to enter the silicon wafer reclaim market at the end of 2019, with a focus on the large-diameter segment, according to the China-based company.

Chang Wah Technology (CWTC) continues to enhance its pre-mold quad flat no-lead (QFN) leadframe offerings, and has developed pre-mold metal substrate (PMMS) technology for the emerging 5G and automotive electronics applications, according to the company.

Taiwan's dedicated semiconductor materials and devices analysis, testing and verification labs, including Integrated Service Technology, (iST), Materials Aanalysis Technology (MA-tek) and Sporton International, are expected to see bright revenue prospects for the second half of 2019 and beyond, thanks...

Chipbond Technology will put on hold its 5G PA (power amplifier) packaging capacity expansion originally set to be enforced in the second half of 2019, due mainly to the uncertainties associated with the US trade ban on China's Huawei, according to company chairman FJ Wu.

Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) is optimistic about longer-term business prospects as it has enjoyed an increase of new clients amid the US-China trade war, although prospects for the second half of 2019 are dimmed by low order visibility, according to chairman Fang Lueh of the Taiwan-based...

Formosa Sumco Technology (FST) will be striving to grow its customer base in China and other non-Taiwan markets, according to the Taiwan-based silicon wafer supplier.

Six-inch foundries including Mosel Vitelic and Episil Technologies have seen their customers mainly those engaged in the power IC sector turn cautious, placing mostly short-term orders lasting for only 1-2 months, according to industry sources.

The escalating US-China trade war is sending IT firms moving their manufacturing operations from China to avoid the tariffs imposed on Chinese products. But plant relocation is much easier said than done, as it is a complicated process...

Epitaxial wafer supplier Visual Photonics Epitaxy Company (VPEC) has kicked off volume production for vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) components, and is expected to gain new orders for VCSELs for Android smartphones in the second half of 2019, according to company chairman MC Chen.

Global fab equipment spending will rebound in 2020, growing 20% to US$58.4 billion after dropping 19% to US$48.4 billion in 2019, according to SEMI.

United Microelectronics (UMC) expects its sales growth this year to be on par with the global foundry industry average.

With Huawei already stocking up on crucial components, the US Commerce Department's ban will not stop Huawei from providing its products and services in the short term. However, the ban has spooked consumers, enterprises and telecom operators, shaking their confidence in Huawei's ability to continue...

Taiwan-based JMC Electronics, which uses both subtrative and semi-additive processes to manufacture chip-on-film (COF) substrates, has strength to better compete with its larger international peers such as Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Semco) and grow its business in the market where supply has already...

A 122-member delegation from Taiwan attended the 2019 SelectUSA Investment Summit held June 10-12. TSMC chairman Mark Liu was also in Washington DC at the same time on a separate invitation by the US government.

Government-run Hsinchu Science Park (HSP), Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) and Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) generated combined revenues of NT$800.737 billion (US$25.84 billion) in January-April 2019, growing 0.76% on year, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

Silicon wafer demand has stayed robust from China's chipmaking industry in line with the country's ongoing efforts to increase self-sufficiency in semiconductors, according to sources at upstream IC materials distributors.

Wafer test solution provider Chunghwa Precision Test Tech (CHPT) has expressed caution about its shipments in the fourth quarter of 2019, judging from poor order visibility for the quarter.

A new supply chain for China IT firms may gradually take shape in Asia in the future as they are seeking to wean themselves off US suppliers of crucial components and facilitate their 5G deployments amid US trade sanctions against Huawei and other Chinese tech players, according to industry sources.

Taiwan recorded export value totaling US$27.72 billion for May 2019, growing 7.3% sequentially but dropping 4.8% on year, while the month's import value reached US$23.22 billion, rising 0.3% sequentially but slipping 5.9% on year, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

The ongoing US-China trade war may force some silicon wafer suppliers to suspend capacity expansion plans or allow proper buffer space for clients to honor their purchase pacts as the gaps between spot and contract prices are widening further due to declines in demand, according to industry sources.

China semiconductor firms including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) and Yangtze Memory Technology (YMTC) are still proceeding with their capacity expansion plans as usual to cement their existing supply chains and boost in-house rates amid the US move to thwart the development...

Pure-play foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) saw its May revenues rebound to over NT$80 billion (US$2.55 billion) - the highest monthly levels thus far in 2019.