Supply Chain

Soitec's factory expansion project, scheduled for completion in 2024, will add 45,000 square meters of floor space, including an office space, to the plant. (Illustration courtesy of Soitec)
Semiconductors

Chip industry doubles down on Singapore as production hub

Soitec, Applied Materials diversify supply chains to mitigate risks

26 February 2023
Exports of wood and other products from Vietnam declined in 2023 as global demand fell. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Supply Chain

Vietnam customs inspections cramp 59% of exporters, importers: survey

Trade dropped in fastest-growing ASEAN economy amid global downturn

24 February 2023
MP Materials' rare-earth mine in Mountain Pass, California.
Supply Chain

MP Materials' rare-earths output hits record ahead of Japan entry

U.S. miner teaming up with Sumitomo to supply key EV materials

24 February 2023
Apple is tapping key suppliers to help make its upcoming augmented reality devices a success. (Source photos by Reuters and AP)
Supply Chain

Apple taps China's Luxshare to develop augmented reality device

Reliance on a Chinese supplier for first-gen gadget a first for iPhone maker

23 February 2023
The Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California owned by MP Materials. (Photo courtesy of company)
Materials

Sumitomo to bypass China in EV rare-earth supply chains

Japan trading house eyes Southeast Asia, U.S. for crucial resources

21 February 2023
Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, is cautious about the overall economic outlook but positive on the electric vehicle industry.
Supply Chain

Tech companies bank on autos to offset dismal electronics demand

Analysts warn returns may disappoint as new players rush in

20 February 2023
Liz Truss argues that the G-7 should join with like-minded countries such as Australia to compete with China for economic influence. (Photo by Mayumi Tsumita)
Supply Chain

'Economic NATO' should be created to counter China: Liz Truss

Ex-U.K. prime minister says West should not repeat Ukraine mistakes in Taiwan

19 February 2023
Marubeni will embark on a business to extract vital metal compounds from recycled batteries. (Photo courtesy of Marubeni)
Materials

Japan's Marubeni to extract battery metals with U.S. recycler

Tie-up aims to create stable source of cobalt, nickel for EV supply chain

16 February 2023
Japanese automakers such as Honda and Mazda are heading into another grim year despite posting upbeat quarterly results for the end of 2022. (Source photos by Reuters)
Automobiles

Honda, Mazda on bumpy path to profit recovery amid chip crunch

Japanese automakers increasingly urged to shift to EVs as China's BYD leads

15 February 2023
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai shakes hands with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Feb. 14. Tai was in the country for a three-day visit.
Trade

China-less IPEF trade framework will benefit business: USTR

USTR Tai also sees lessons in 'dark' history with former war enemy Vietnam

15 February 2023
Japanese investment in Vietnam is also bringing awareness of how human rights affect supply chains, said the chief representative of JETRO in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Supply Chain

Vietnam at center of Japan's ASEAN supply chain shift: survey

Electronics investment, human rights awareness on the rise, trade body JETRO says

14 February 2023
U.S. export controls on advanced chipmaking equipment has made it harder for American providers to do business in China. (Photo courtesy of Applied Materials) 
Trade war

U.S. chip tool makers eye Southeast Asia as China business shrinks

Export controls drive shift as semiconductor industry suffers demand slump

10 February 2023
SMIC's lackluster October-December performance included revenue falling 15%, gross margin dropping to 32% and net income declining 18.1% on the quarter.
Semiconductors

China chipmaker SMIC sticks to expansion plans amid downturn

Industry facing 'severe' situation due to politics and weak demand, co-CEO says

10 February 2023
Toyota faces continues to face chip shortages and high material costs. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Automobiles

Toyota net profit drops 18% through December due to rising costs

Full-year forecast remains unchanged for Japanese automaker

9 February 2023
The Nintendo Switch console, a big winner at the outset of the pandemic, has become a victim of the global semiconductor shortage. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Media & Entertainment

Nintendo expects 23% drop in profit as Switch sales fall

Company says console demand down as inflation hits consumer appetite

7 February 2023
Vietnamese will spend on food and beverages but cut back on big-ticket purchases because of concerns about the economy, Infocus Mekong Research says. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Consumer

As Vietnam exports slow, survey shows consumer gloom on the rise

Workers take on side jobs to make ends meet amid inflation and factory worries

7 February 2023
Yangtze Memory Technologies has more than 10,000 employees globally.
Caixin

Yangtze Memory kicks terminated workers out of apartments

Chinese state-owned chipmaker also slashing payrolls 5% to 10%

6 February 2023
A worker processes nickel at a nickel smelter.
Market Spotlight

EV battery material suppliers brace for gluts as competition heats up

Lithium, nickel producers expand as U.S. pushes for non-Chinese supplies

6 February 2023
India is important to Apple not only as a sizable market but also as a growing manufacturing hub. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/Kosaku Mimura)
Technology

Apple 'bullish' on India amid China production chaos, sales drop

South Asian country saw double-digit revenue growth against overall decline

3 February 2023
Cisco's Dave West says "the pace of digitization isn't going to slow."
5G networks

Cisco sees India, Philippines emerging as leaders in 5G rollout

Japan will also continue to be key player, U.S. networking giant says

3 February 2023
Lockdowns in China impacted Apple's primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly hub in Zhengzhou. (Photo courtesy of Apple) 
Technology

Apple suffers 1st revenue drop since 2019 on lower demand, China woes

Greater China takes biggest hit but 'production back where we want it to be'

3 February 2023
Kubota is promoting offshore production to shield sales from currency fluctuations. (Photo courtesy of Kubota)
Companies

Kubota shifts production to U.S., India despite weak yen

Japanese tractor maker seeks to raise overseas output ratio to 50%, president says

2 February 2023
Vietnam promised under the CPTPP trade deal that the Communist Party would surrender its monopoly on labor unions, which would mark a rare relaxation of controls. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Economy

U.S. pushes Vietnam on union rights, Xinjiang forced labor

Envoy acknowledges issues in America, too, where employers are said to resist unions

30 January 2023
MKS CEO John T.C. Lee said the chip downturn is only cyclical and the industry will return to healthy growth in the mid to long term. (Photo by Cheng Ting-Fang)
Supply Chain

Taiwan, South Korea will remain key chip hubs, says MKS chief

Chip tool supplier chief expects U.S. and Europe to become bigger players in time

30 January 2023
Cameras bound for Japan, the U.S. and Europe will be produced in Thailand instead of China. (Photo by Keiichi Furukawa)
Electronics

Sony separates production of cameras for China and non-China markets

Devices for Japan, U.S. and Europe to be made in Thailand

29 January 2023