Semiconductors

Nidec sees the e-Axle, its traction motor system for electric vehicles, as a driver of its earnings growth. (Photo by Shuntaro Fukutomi)
Supply Chain

EV motor maker Nidec fights for more chip buying power

Japanese manufacturer to consolidate purchases, push own designs

8 June 2022
The European Union is set to upgrade economic ties with Taiwan -- home to major semiconductor companies such as TSMC. (Source photos by Shinya Sawai and Reuters) 
International relations

Taiwan, EU to boost economic ties to secure chip availability

Both sides focus on supply chain resilience in light of Ukraine war and COVID

1 June 2022
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, left, and Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, right, have met after President Joe Biden recently emphasized the need for technology partnerships between the U.S. and South Korea.
Semiconductors

Samsung's Lee and Intel CEO Gelsinger hold semiconductor talks

Top executives explore chip cooperation amid global supply chain pressures

31 May 2022
TSMC, Taiwan's chipmaking king, is spending billions to build a production facility in the desert of Arizona. (Source photo by Reuters and Yifan Yu)
Business Spotlight

From somebody to nobody: TSMC faces uphill battle in U.S. talent war

Taiwan's tech titan faces off with Intel in Arizona's tight labor market

27 May 2022
Semiconductors, a critical component in products ranging from cars to smartphones, are one of Taiwan's most important industries.
Politics

Taiwan sets 12-year prison term for stealing tech secrets

Taipei bolsters protection of critical semiconductor industry

20 May 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visit the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek campus on May 20.
Supply Chain

Biden visits Samsung's chip plant to highlight economic security

President calls for supply-chain coordination among value-sharing partners

20 May 2022
Renesas Electronics' investment marks a shift from the "fab-lite" strategy of consolidating domestic bases and minimizing factories. (Image courtesy of Renesas Electronics)
Semiconductors

Japan's Renesas pours $700m into doubling power chip production

Shuttered plant to be reopened with upgraded equipment as EV demand grows

17 May 2022
Foxconn of Taiwan says it plans to build a chip plant in Malaysia as it accelerates it semiconductor ambitions.
Semiconductors

Taiwan's Foxconn plans to build chip facility in Malaysia amid EV push

IPhone assembler joins with local partner to expand semiconductor ambitions

17 May 2022
Helmut Gassel, chief marketing officer and board member at Infineon.
Semiconductors

Infineon says onshoring chip production 'wise' for supply chains

Demand for automotive chips far exceeds supply, marketing chief Gassel says

16 May 2022
Top China chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. issued a gloomy outlook for consumer electronics demand on May 13, saying it sees no sign of a recovery anytime soon. 
Semiconductors

China chipmaker SMIC says phone, PC demand has dropped 'like a rock'

CEO says Ukraine war, China lockdowns to wipe 200m units off handset shipments

13 May 2022
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#techAsia

TSMC price hike and a bargain-hunting Alibaba

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

12 May 2022
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Semiconductors

Japan's chip industry faces old challenge: Scaling up production

A boutique investment bank is working to set up a chip foundry to fill the gap

12 May 2022
Nintendo and Sony are struggling with supply chain constraints. (Source photos by Tomoki Mera and Tetsuya Kitayama) 
Companies

Sony, Nintendo expect lower profits amid supply chain constraints

Shortage of parts and China lockdowns are key challenges this year

10 May 2022
TSMC, the world's biggest contract chipmaker, is planning to raise prices by "single-digit percentages," multiple industry sources say.  
Semiconductors

TSMC plans another price hike amid inflation concerns

Chip titan warns clients of second increase since 2021, citing rising costs

10 May 2022
Tsinghua Unigroup, whose booth at a Chongqing exhibition is pictured here, suffered a financial collapse.
Comment

China's chip strategy setbacks hold lesson for Japan on self-reliance

Japanese players should use M&A to build scale in their strengths: industry veteran

4 May 2022
Japan and the U.S. are planning to work closer together in building a chip supply chain to cut dependence on Taiwanese and other producers. (Source photo by AP) 
Semiconductors

Japan, U.S. to deepen cooperation in cutting-edge chips

Eyeing China, allies aim to push beyond 2-nanometer technology

2 May 2022
By one estimate, world data center power usage is poised to grow about fifteenfold in 10 years at current performance levels.
Technology

Fujitsu, NEC aim to curb power-hungry data centers' appetite by 40%

7 Japanese companies to join forces on new chip designs and materials

2 May 2022
Narendra Modi told a semiconductor industry event in Bengaluru today that "a new world order is forming and we have to seize the opportunity." (Photo by Ryosuke Hanada)
Semiconductors

Indian PM Modi vows to build semiconductor production hub

Government offers $10bn in incentives to attract global chipmakers

29 April 2022
Arm sold a majority stake in Arm China to a group of local investors in 2018. (Photo courtesy of ARM)
Companies

SoftBank-owned Arm ousts CEO of Chinese joint venture

U.K. chip designer pushes to take control of Arm China ahead of planned IPO

29 April 2022
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#techAsia

Inside Honor and Arm wrestling in China

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

28 April 2022
U.S. companies have dominated chip design even as they have outsourced fabrication. Now Taiwanese players are starting to encroach on this turf.
Semiconductors

Taiwan's rise as chip design hub threatens U.S. dominance

Proximity to TSMC helps MediaTek and compatriots take 4 slots on top 10 list

28 April 2022
U.S. chipmaker Wolfspeed is aiming to expand its production of silicon carbide chips, which are used in electric vehicles. (Photo by Jack Stone Truitt)
Semiconductors

U.S. opens first major silicon carbide chip plant in New York

Wolfspeed's 200mm facility to supply American and Chinese EV makers

26 April 2022
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is expected to expand its share of the global contract chipmaking market to 56% this year.
25 April 2022
Japan's Yaskawa Electric is a major producer of industrial robots, motors and other parts used in a wide range of industries. (Photo by Shinya Sawai) 
Semiconductors

Robot maker Yaskawa says supply 'imbalance' prolonging chip crunch

Chairman says outlook for resuming China production 'unpredictable'

25 April 2022
The weak yen raises doubts over Japan's influence in Asia as the currency becomes less of a safe haven and less key in financial markets. (Source photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
Market Spotlight

South Korea shrugs off weak yen as Japan's influence wanes

Samsung, Hyundai Motor unfazed by depreciation, signaling power shift away from neighbor

25 April 2022