Semiconductors

Unigroup, majority owned by Tsinghua University in Beijing, was once at the forefront of China's drive to develop a domestic semiconductor industry.
Caixin

Rescuing China's would-be chipmaking champion

Debt-laden Tsinghua Unigroup on fast track for bankruptcy reorganization

7 September 2021
TSMC's move to raise its fees for chip production services took many in the industry by surprise. 
Semiconductors

Chip prices set to rise into 2022 as TSMC hikes rates

Semiconductor and electronics prices are set to rise absent major economic slowdowns

6 September 2021
Smaller inverters, a key EV component, helped give Tesla's Model 3 its sleek design. Silicon carbide contributes to making smaller power components.
Semiconductors

Led by Tesla, EVs drive chip industry's shift beyond silicon

Model 3's use of new material spurs competition for energy-efficient alternative

6 September 2021
South Korean manufacturers including Samsung have overtaken Japanese peers as leaders in memory chips and LCD screens. (Photo courtesy of Samsung)
Electronics

Samsung builds chip supply chain on home turf to cut overseas risk

Company seeks buffer from Japan-South Korea row and US-China tensions

4 September 2021
SMIC's planned Shanghai plant will make older-generation chips that are currently in short supply for everything from consumer electronics to self-driving cars.
Semiconductors

SMIC to build $8.87bn Shanghai chip plant in challenge to TSMC

Chinese contract chipmaker looks to meet demand for lower-end semiconductors

3 September 2021
Google is joining the ranks of global tech companies racing to develop in-house chips. (Source photo by AP)
Semiconductors

Google developing own CPUs for Chromebook laptops

US software giant ramps up hiring blitz for semiconductor and hardware ambitions

1 September 2021
Japan has been trying to court investment by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in Japanese production capacity. (Photo courtesy of TSMC)
Technology

US benefits as Taiwan tech shifts from China, but Japan left behind

Europe and ASEAN nations also become leading investment destinations

1 September 2021
Huawei remains reliant on U.S.-made chips for some key semiconductors. (Source photo by Reuters)
Huawei crackdown

Chinese components double to 60% in new Huawei smartphone

Teardown analysis reflects impact of U.S. sanctions on former No. 2 player

31 August 2021
The U.S. Capitol Building: The House of Representatives is slated to reconvene on Sept. 20.
US-China tensions

Vote on US 'China bill' recedes to fall or beyond

Aid for chip industry in focus as House and Senate struggle to reconcile legislation

27 August 2021
Fuji Electric looks to ramp up production of power chips partly in response to strong demand for electric vehicles.
Electronics

Japan's Fuji Electric gives $360m boost to power chip business

Electronics maker expands capacity in Malaysia to meet electric-car demand

26 August 2021
TSMC's price hike comes on the heels of an increase of more than 10% since last fall.
Semiconductors

TSMC hikes chip prices up to 20% amid supply shortage

Taiwanese company faces earnings pressure with plans for overseas plants

26 August 2021
Kulicke & Soffa says staying close to its Asian customers is more important than being part of the global diversification trend. (Photo courtesy of Kulicke & Soffa)
Semiconductors

Top chip tool maker sticks with Singapore amid supply chain shift

Kulicke and Soffa says not everyone in supply chain needs to expand overseas

25 August 2021
 Employees of Globalfoundries hold silicon wafers.
Semiconductors

GlobalFoundries CEO: Chip industry output must double in 10 years

Regions compete for manufacturing capacity as geopolitical awareness increases

23 August 2021
BYD, China's biggest carmaker by market valuation, is looking to list its chipmaking arm in Shenzhen. 
Semiconductors

China carmaker BYD's chip unit IPO plan halted by regulatory woes

Probe into law firm handling deal comes as Beijing ramps up scrutiny on tech

22 August 2021
Chipmakers such as Texas Instruments are building their stockpile of raw materials to drive production. (Image courtesy of the company)
Semiconductors

Global chipmakers build record inventories in push to end shortage

Manufacturers plan to expand capacity, but fears of glut loom

21 August 2021
Fujifilm sees chip materials as a driver for future growth, alongside its health care business.
Semiconductors

Fujifilm to invest over $630m to boost chip material production

Company poised to tap growth from 5G networks and AI

21 August 2021
Toyota's Takaoka plant: The automaker will suspend production lines at multiple domestic factories starting early next month. (Photo by Koji Uema)
Automobiles

Toyota to cut global output 40% in September on ASEAN outbreaks

Automaker cites impact of coronavirus on suppliers in Vietnam and Malaysia

20 August 2021
JERA will expand the Fong Der Power Station in Tainan, southern Taiwan, at a total investment of about 100 billion yen ($912.74 million). (Photo courtesy of JERA)
Energy

Taiwan chip industry's energy appetite draws Japan investment

JERA and partners to spend $900m to expand gas-fired power plant

18 August 2021
Wingtech's purchase of Newport Wafer Fab of the U.K. comes amid a global shortage of chips. (Photo courtesy of Wingtech)
Semiconductors

China smartphone maker says UK chip plant purchase 'complete'

Wingtech announcement comes weeks after British PM said deal was being reviewed

16 August 2021
Ajinomoto is comfortable having operations that span everything from powdered coffee to contract drug manufacturing to chip materials. (Nikkei montage/Rie Ishii/Ken Kobayashi)
Business Spotlight

Century-old food giant Ajinomoto surprise COVID tech boom winner

Seasoning maker's resurgence illustrates how Japan Inc. adapts to change

13 August 2021
George Zhao, CEO of Honor Device, talks about the Huawei Technologies spinoff's collaboration with Qualcomm at an Aug. 12 launch event. (Screenshot from the event)
China tech

Huawei spinoff Honor secures Qualcomm backing for new phones

US chipmaker's CEO welcomes Chinese brand's first global launch on its own

13 August 2021
Several Chinese frontrunners have jumped into the race, attracting investors' attention.
Caixin

In depth: Chinese chipmaking upstarts race to rival Nvidia

Iluvatar CoreX, Biren Technology and others bet on next-generation chips for AI

11 August 2021
U.S. semiconductor giant GlobalFoundries will invest over $4 billion in its Singapore plant, increasing its capacity to about 1.5 million wafers per year.
Semiconductors

Singapore plays catch-up with Taiwan as chip investments soar

City-state gains from supply chain diversification drive but lags Asian peers

11 August 2021
South Korea gaining self-sufficiency in high-tech materials would be to the detriment of Japanese companies, but Tokyo has little sense of crisis.
Comment

Despite Moon's claims, South Korea still relies on Japanese chip materials

Seoul touts success in made-in-Korea drive but trade numbers tell another story

8 August 2021
SMIC reported strong profit growth despite a U.S. crackdown on the Chinese chipmaker.
Semiconductors

Top China chipmaker SMIC buoyed by robust domestic demand

Company raises outlook as access to some US chip tools improves

6 August 2021