In the fourth quarter of 2024, global notebook shipments (excluding detachable models) performed better than expected, decreasing by 1% compared to the previous quarter. In anticipation of tariffs on notebooks imported into the US by the Trump administration, brands and channel retailers increased their inventories in the fourth quarter to prepare. However, the high inventory from the fourth quarter will strongly undermine brand vendors' shipments in the first quarter of 2025, according to DIGITIMES' latest quarterly notebook shipments report.
China Fineblanking Technology Co. (CFTC), the leading high-precision stamping manufacturer, reported revenue of NT$157 million (US$4.9 million) for February 2025, bringing its total revenue for January and February to NT$344 million (US$10.75 million). Compared to the same period in 2024, these numbers marked a decline impacted by the Lunar New Year holiday and fewer working days in February.
The US tariff policy is set to cause major changes in the global supply chain. Joe Huang, president of Qisda, stated that while the company currently has manufacturing facilities in Taiwan, China, and Vietnam, it is considering a fourth base in Southeast Asia due to tariffs introduced under former President Donald Trump. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are the leading contenders. Qisda is conducting preliminary evaluations and expects to make a decision within six months.
The global trend of industrial automation, coupled with rising labor costs and the need for greater production efficiency, is driving strong demand for robotics and automotive components. Chelic, a manufacturer of pneumatic components, expects this trend to accelerate its operational growth.
Pegatron showcased its evolution into a full-fledged system supplier at MWC 2025, marking three years of transformation. CY Feng, general manager of the company's BU6, emphasized that multiple Proofs of Concept (PoCs) have validated its solutions, positioning Pegatron as market-ready.
Lenovo has announced a strategic plan to manufacture all its PC models in India over the next three years. The company is also preparing to manufacture GPU-based servers for artificial intelligence in Pondicherry.
After reaching a new low in 2024, key players in Taiwan's machine tool industry believe demand will rebound in 2025 and may even see double-digit growth.
Getac Technology Chairman James Huang highlighted Europe's sharp rise in military spending, particularly in Germany, amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The company is engaged in multiple European defense projects and sees growing momentum in drone fleet development. Getac has been working on Ground Control Station (GCS) systems for a year, collaborating with clients across Europe and the US.
The 2025 Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS) began on March 3, co-organized by TAITRA and TAMI. Notable attendees included President William Lai and foreign diplomats. In his address, TAITRA chairman James Huang highlighted the crucial role of machinery in driving innovation across industries, emphasizing that AI-equipped machine tools will spearhead the next industrial revolution.
LG Group chairman Kwang-mo Koo traveled to India to assess the company's R&D, production, and distribution as LG commemorates 30 years in the market. This visit aligns with LG's strategy to expand in India while managing risks associated with US-China tensions.
AI-capable PC shipments hit 15.4 million units in the fourth quarter of 2024, accounting for 23% of all PC shipments during the quarter, according to the most recent data from Canalys, which is now a part of Omdia.
Despite external pressures such as tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties, electroacoustic component manufacturer Merry Electronics remains resilient, focusing on diversification and revenue-driven growth. Allen Huang, CEO of Merry, believes that as the share of new customers and products continues to rise in the coming years, the impact of external factors will become relatively minor.
On March 5, Giga Computing, a subsidiary of Gigabyte, announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with South Korea's SK Telecom and SK Enmove. The three parties will collaborate to drive innovation in AI data center (AIDC) and high-performance computing (HPC) technologies, accelerating the application of next-generation liquid cooling solutions in data centers.
Chicony Power Technology, a prominent player in the power supply solutions market, is projecting a cautious start to 2025, with the first quarter likely to be subdued due to ongoing political and geopolitical challenges. However, the company remains hopeful for a stronger performance throughout the year, driven by the launch of high-value product lines, the acquisition of new customers, and the gradual ramp-up of new production capacity in Thailand.
Jabil Inc. has unveiled its 2024 Sustainability Progress Report, showcasing its significant advancements in meeting its five-year sustainability objectives. The report underscores Jabil's achievements in cutting operational greenhouse gas emissions, reducing waste sent to landfills, and contributing to the well-being of the communities where its employees reside and work.
Compal Electronics has partnered with the Kalyani Group's electronics division to enter the Indian market. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding to develop server operations using local manufacturing, aligning with the Make in India policy.
The Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS) 2025 is, for the first time, centering on robots as a primary theme, with keynote addresses from executives of prominent enterprises, including THK CEO Akihiro Teramachi.
Largan Precision reported a consolidated revenue of NT$47.35 billion (approx. US$1.4 billion) for February 2025, marking a historical high for the same period. Although this figure represented a 4% decline from January's NT$49.47 billion, it showed a significant growth of 40% compared to NT$33.90 billion in February 2024.
Foxconn reported a revenue of NT$551.4 billion (US$16.8 billion) for February 2025, marking a new high for this period. This figure represents a month-over-month increase of 2.36% and a year-over-year growth of 56.43%. Cumulatively, the revenue for the first two months of 2025 reached NT$1.9 trillion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 24.63%, also setting a record for this timeframe.
As manufacturers worldwide embrace AI, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to automate operations, Akihiro Teramachi, Chairman and CEO of Japan's THK Group, has cautioned against using automation as a pretext for laying off employees.
The Trump administration is escalating trade tensions, slapping a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico while increasing China's tariffs by 10%. The move is accelerating supply chain migration, with PC brands shifting production to Southeast Asia and server makers in Mexico pivoting to Texas.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Finance have initiated discussions on imposing anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made graphite electrodes.
India's Dixon Technologies is considering expanding its manufacturing operations in Uttar Pradesh, a key hub for mobile phone production. The company aims to start producing display modules by late 2025 and is leading this expansion by manufacturing 4K TVs for an Indian brand.
Delta Electronics anticipates that overall group revenue will be good in the first half of 2025, outperforming the same period in 2024, driven by continuous AI-related demand. The outlook for the second half is less clear due to various uncertain factors in the market; however, AI-related revenue is expected to continue growing.
