Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are set to join a US-led initiative to secure artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, expanding a framework Washington views as a cornerstone of its economic security strategy.
At CES 2026, chipmakers remained at the center of attention. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and AMD CEO Lisa Su both delivered keynote speeches, while Lenovo hosted a major event at the Sphere, bringing together Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm to showcase their PC processor strategies.
Distribution giant Synnex Technology International Corp. posted robust revenue growth in December 2025, benefiting from rising memory prices and increased demand for AI server applications. The company's consolidated revenue for the month reached NT$47.025 billion (approx. US$1.49 billion), up 13.6% from November and 13.8% year-over-year.
Taiwanese semiconductor firm Etron Technology is presenting its MemorAiLink platform at the CES 2026 event in the US, integrating technologies from multiple subsidiaries. The company's innovation spans diverse AI applications, including drones and robotic dogs, demonstrating its broad industry footprint.
Samsung Electronics has reclaimed its position as the world's leading DRAM supplier in the fourth quarter of 2025, reporting record revenue of KRW27.7 trillion (US$19.2 billion) in the segment. The company's overall revenue reached a quarterly high of KRW93 trillion, with operating profit hitting KRW20 trillion, supported primarily by strong memory sales.
South Korea is stepping up policy support for next-generation power semiconductors as part of a broader push to strengthen domestic chip manufacturing and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers, with local foundries accelerating the commercialization of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices.
India's semiconductor ambitions are beginning to extend beyond fabrication and conventional packaging into secure chip personalization and cryptographic control, as Kaynes Semicon and SEALSQ detailed the roadmap for their newly approved joint venture (JV).
Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories of the first full week of 2026: January 5-11.
Electronic component distributor Honey Hope Honesty Enterprise (3H) reported December 2025 revenue of NT$652 million (US$20.63 million), up 52.01% year over year. The strong growth was primarily driven by urgent customer orders, which boosted sales. For the full year of 2025, cumulative revenue reached NT$5.43 billion, up 15.75% compared to 2024.
On January 6, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that, to safeguard national security and interests, it would strengthen export controls on dual-use items to Japan. It also initiated an anti-dumping investigation on specialty gases exported to Japan's chip industry. This goes far beyond its previous rare earth controls, with vague definitions for military and civilian applications.
Samsung Electronics has reportedly secured KRW800 billion (US$550 million) through a low-interest loan program from the Korea Development Bank, according to sources cited by Korean media.
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