Semiconductors

Sanjay Mehrotra, Micron Technology's CEO, said his company will be investing an additional 500 billion yen in a chipmaking plant in the western Japan prefecture of Hiroshima.
Semiconductors

Micron to invest $3.6bn in Japan for DRAM chips: CEO

State-of-the-art production line to be built in Hiroshima prefecture

18 May 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, second from left, meets with chipmaker executives in Tokyo on May 18. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Semiconductors

Chips at center of G-7 discussion of how to counter China's rise

Industry heads gather in Japan to give their backing to 'friend-shoring'

18 May 2023
Apple is taking a hands-on approach to production of micro-LED screens, a next-generation display technology that it plans to introduce first with its Apple Watch.
Supply Chain

Apple dives into display-making to cut reliance on Samsung

iPhone maker makes billion-dollar bet on micro-LED screens

18 May 2023
Consumer spending is lifting Japan's economy following several years of pandemic-related restraint. (Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Economy

Doubts smolder about how long Japan's post-COVID recovery can last

Rising prices and weak overseas demand threaten economic rebound

18 May 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet with executives of major international chipmakers, as he looks to bolster Japan's domestic industry.
Semiconductors

Kishida to meet South Korea, Taiwan, U.S. chip company execs

Japan looks to revive domestic semiconductor industry on supply concerns

17 May 2023
A microchip is displayed at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute in Hsinchu: With economic and social stability at stake, nations should take action now to stock up on chips.
Opinion

'Strategic chip reserves' can insulate against Taiwan war risk

Potential economic and social impact of supply cutoff too great to ignore

17 May 2023
Kyocera's organic package products for semiconductors, used for AI and other technology. (Photo by Eisaku Nitta)
Semiconductors

Kyocera plans $3bn in chip spending to meet AI demand

Investment to more than double over previous three-year period

17 May 2023
Fujifilm aims for 500 billion yen in sales of semiconductor materials by fiscal 2030.
Semiconductors

Fujifilm to invest $110m in Taiwan chip material production

Japanese company to build new plant and expand facilities on the island

16 May 2023
Samsung Electronics' chip production plant in Pyeongtaek. The South Korean company is one of the world's leading makers of semiconductors. (Samsung Electronics/Handout via Reuters)
Semiconductors

Japan's advanced chipmaking suppliers help prompt Samsung to open hub

U.S.-China tech war, founder's philosophy also behind new research facility in Yokohama

16 May 2023
Samsung's new research facility will focus on "back end" production, in which wafers are packaged into final products. 
Semiconductors

Samsung to build chip development facility in Japan

$222m investment expected to spur collaboration between Japan, South Korea

14 May 2023
Workers assemble an electric pickup truck at Foxconn's factory in Lordstown, in the U.S. state of Ohio, in November 2022.
Semiconductors

Foxconn accelerates drive for in-house EV chips

Apple supplier turns to auto assembly to reduce reliance on thin-margin iPhones

13 May 2023
China's Oppo began pursuing its own chip development after witnessing the impact of a U.S. clampdown on compatriot Huawei.
Semiconductors

China's Oppo to cease chip development amid smartphone gloom

Device maker making 'difficult adjustments for long-term development'

12 May 2023
China's SMIC says the outlook for the chip industry this year remains unclear. 
Semiconductors

China's SMIC foresees better Q2 on rush of domestic chip orders

Supply chain reshuffles benefiting chipmaker for now, says co-CEO

12 May 2023
Taiwan's Foxconn is betting on EVs as a new growth pillar amid a slowdown in the smartphone industry.
Technology

Foxconn will seek management changes at Sharp if losses persist

Key iPhone assembler sees earnings plunge 56% due to display market woes

11 May 2023
A slump in the semiconductor market looms over the outlook for Tokyo Electron's chipmaking equipment. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Electron)
Semiconductors

Chip bulls or bears? Tokyo Electron industry forecast in spotlight

Chipmaking equipment maker predicted a recovery, but that may change

11 May 2023
Bertrand Loy, president and CEO of U.S. chipmaking material supplier Entegris, says the company is opening its "most advanced" manufacturing center in Taiwan. (Source photos by AP and Getty Images)
Semiconductors

U.S. chip supplier Entegris upbeat on Taiwan despite China tension

CEO Bertrand Loy not 'overly concerned' about industry's current downturn

10 May 2023
Demand is growing for testing equipment for certain kinds of cutting-edge semiconductors.
Semiconductors

Japanese chip-tester makers bet big on 3D, EV devices

Tokyo Seimitsu and Micronics Japan plan capacity expansion

9 May 2023
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe is presiding over a major shift in Honda's EV supply chain. (Photo by Tetsuya Kitayama) 
Supply Chain

Honda follows Apple model on EVs, working directly with suppliers

New supply chain puts emphasis on batteries, semiconductors

2 May 2023
Honda Motor and GS Yuasa will invest 434.1 billion yen to develop and produce lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles at factories in Japan. The project is expected to receive a subsidy of up to 158.7 billion yen.
Politics

Honda, others to receive $1.8bn in battery, semiconductor subsidies

Japan supports domestic production of critical items, including EV parts

29 April 2023
Delta Electronics of Taiwan began investing in its electric vehicle operations 15 years ago and has now turned its first quarterly profit in the segment. (Photo by Lauly Li) 
Technology

Taiwan's Delta Electronics logs first profit in EV segment

Overall Q1 profit up 14% on year, tech supplier raises capex plans

28 April 2023
Samsung Electronics is trying to weather a slump in demand for semiconductors, used in a wide variety of products including smartphones. 
Semiconductors

Samsung semiconductor division swings to $3.4bn loss in Q1

Tech giant says overall operating profit plunged 95.5%, similar to guidance

27 April 2023
SK Hynix and other semiconductor manufacturers are dealing with a slowdown in the industry. 
Semiconductors

SK Hynix operating loss widens in Q1 as chip downturn worsens

South Korean semiconductor manufacturer posts $2.5bn in red ink

26 April 2023
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe speaks at a news conference on April 26 in Tokyo. (Photo by Yuki Nakao) 
Semiconductors

Honda Motor taps TSMC to ensure 'stable' supply of chips

Strategic partnership comes as automaker steps up EV push

26 April 2023
Rapidus is a key piece of Japan's efforts to bring advanced semiconductor manufacturing back to the country.
Semiconductors

Japan to give chipmaker Rapidus nearly $2bn more in aid

Money going to R&D, including dispatching of engineers to IBM

26 April 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden. (Source photos by Reuters) 
International relations

In Biden summit, Yoon to seek chip breaks, support on North Korea

President also under pressure to get answers regarding alleged U.S. spying

25 April 2023