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Aug 10
Samsung HBM4 yield nears 80% as production race with SK Hynix heats up

Samsung Electronics has reportedly pushed the production yield of its sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) close to 80%, marking a sharp improvement from the start of mass production as competition with SK Hynix increasingly shifts toward production capacity and supply stability.

Amkor Technology is exploring options, including the sale of a stake in its China business, according to people familiar with the matter, adding the US chip packaging and testing giant to a growing list of multinationals reassessing their presence in the country, Bloomberg reported.

Following growing momentum behind large-scale infrastructure buildouts in South Korea, the industry is witnessing an aggressive wave of AI-related initiatives aimed at expanding the nation's semiconductor production capacity. But the broader objective extends beyond capacity ramps alone toward building a more self-reinforcing semiconductor ecosystem across some of the most critical stages of advanced chip manufacturing.

YAGEO and Walsin Technology reported strong July 2026 revenue as artificial intelligence demand continued to lift Taiwan's passive components sector. Both companies said orders from AI-related, networking, industrial, and automotive customers remained solid, while capacity utilization remained high.

Taiwanese display driver IC (DDI) maker Fitipower Integrated Technology's Chairman Young Lin said the company will roll out several new products for sampling and mass production in 2026, laying the groundwork for continued revenue growth. He added that the e-paper and electronic label markets are a major focus, with Fitipower hoping for sequential quarterly growth this year. However, he said end-market demand is not yet strong and still requires caution.

Gudeng Precision Industrial reported record revenue for the first seven months of 2026, supported by stronger EUV pod orders and rising purchases from overseas customers for advanced semiconductor shipping containers. The company said demand tied to advanced-process ramp-ups, 2nm volume production, and advanced packaging will keep full-year 2026 growth on track, with second-half performance expected to outpace the first half.
For students and employers worldwide, the shift toward science and engineering degrees in Taiwan and China underscores how artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor demand are reshaping education choices. Rising wages, stronger job prospects, and government industrial policy are drawing talent toward STEM fields, while humanities enrollment is weakening.
Intel on August 10, 2026, announced plans to raise US$15 billion through an underwritten public offering of common stock, as the chipmaker seeks to strengthen its balance sheet and fund investments aimed at capturing growth opportunities from the artificial intelligence boom.

Dynamic said its Thailand plant will not begin mass-producing high-end AI products until the fourth quarter of 2026, a delay that could make it harder for the PCB maker to achieve its goal of deriving 20% of sales from AI that year. For global readers, the timeline underscores how supply-chain bottlenecks can ripple through AI hardware markets.

Liying Environmental Protection Technology reported record July 2026 revenue as demand tied to AI semiconductor production continued to rise. The company said the growth reflected stronger global appetite for AI chips, which has lifted advanced-process utilization in the semiconductor industry and increased the need for recycling and decarbonization services around key manufacturing chemicals.

China's silicon wafer industry is entering a new phase of simultaneous capacity expansion and consolidation, with Xi'an Eswin Material Technology investing further in a 12-inch wafer base in Wuhan while Hangzhou Lion Microelectronics moves to take full control of Zhejiang Jinruihong Technologies.

Yesiang Enterprise, a major maker of advanced-process microcontamination control filters, reported strong first-half 2026 results and said July consolidated revenue reached NT$305 million, a monthly record for the third straight month. The gains came as a global foundry leader continued expanding advanced-process capacity, boosting demand for high-end filtration products.