DIGITIMES ICT: ICT manufacturing news

Home Tech ICT ICT manufacturing

Wednesday 28 May 2025

Trump threatens new tariffs on iPhones and EU imports, raising tensions with Apple

Fresh off a triumphant Middle East tour, President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions on Thursday with a bold new proposal: imposing a 50 percent tariff on all European Union (EU) imports and a 25% levy on all smartphones not manufactured in the US.

Wednesday 28 May 2025

Taiwan's AI, semiconductor strength shields economy from tariff risks, spurs 2025 growth forecast upgrades

Despite concerns over US President Donald Trump's tariff policies, international demand for Taiwan's AI and semiconductor sectors remains resilient, reinforcing the island's status as a global hub for AI server manufacturing and insulating it from trade-related disruptions.

Wednesday 28 May 2025

Computex 2025 hits record attendance amid growing uncertainty over AI boom and policy risks

Computex 2025 wrapped up with record-breaking attendance and exhibitor participation, underscoring the sustained momentum of artificial intelligence (AI) across the tech sector. Exhibitors warmly welcomed Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, with many showcasing AI-driven innovations. However, despite the energy and enthusiasm on the show floor, an undercurrent of caution and anxiety loomed over the event — a stark contrast to the optimism of previous years.

Wednesday 28 May 2025

Nvidia pulls the plug on Hopper in China—AI giants scramble to adapt

In the first half of 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang officially announced that the company will no longer release Hopper architecture AI chips tailored for China. This announcement sent shockwaves through China's tech industry, raising concerns about whether the country's three major internet giants—Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba, which have long relied on Nvidia GPUs as the core for large model training and AI development, are prepared to respond.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Taiwan Cement embraces AI to drive resilience, stresses role in semiconductor growth

During Taiwan Cement Corporation's (TCC) 2025 annual shareholders' meeting on May 27, chairman An-ping Chang expressed confidence in the company's long-term viability, declaring that despite shifting investment trends favoring semiconductors, his cement firm is built to last a hundred years.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Notebook supply chain treads carefully as Trump calls on Apple, Samsung to reshore production

US President Donald Trump has called on tech giants Apple and Samsung to move their manufacturing operations back to the US, surprising many in the global supply chain who were already shifting production toward India and Vietnam. Ongoing negotiations between Apple and the Trump administration have placed further expansion plans on hold, industry sources say.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Huawei's first HarmonyOS PC with 5nm Kirin X90 chip marks China's major leap in semiconductor self-sufficiency

Huawei recently unveiled its first HarmonyOS-powered computer, a significant milestone in the company's technological evolution. According to a report by China's state-run CCTV, the new PC is equipped with the cutting-edge Kirin X90 chip built on 5nm process technology, alongside Huawei's proprietary operating system, HarmonyOS. CCTV further emphasized that "domestic semiconductor devices have, for the first time, achieved a self-sustaining, complete ecosystem in terms of performance and other facets."

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Trump 2.0: Boon or bane for Taiwan? January-April trade and output data offers some clues

Despite fresh uncertainty under Trump's second term, Taiwan's technology and trade sectors are showing surprising resilience and even growth. While his unpredictable tariff policies continue to rattle global markets, Taiwan is capitalizing on an AI-driven boom, with January-April 2025 industrial output and exports hitting new highs.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Trump threatens Apple tariffs but Taiwan optical firms remain calm

US President Donald Trump's threat to slap at least 25% tariffs on Apple if it doesn't manufacture iPhones domestically has failed to rattle Taiwan's optical component makers, who are taking a wait-and-see approach to the volatile policy rhetoric.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

iPhone supply chain holds breath for Trump's 25% tariff threats

US President Donald Trump's latest warning of a 25% tariff on Apple's iPhone production unless it returns to the US has rattled global supply chain operators. While the threat aligns with Trump's longstanding protectionist stance, industry insiders say the implications—higher costs, potential production delays, and forced supply chain shifts—are too significant to ignore. Suppliers are reportedly in negotiations with Apple to determine the next steps.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Tienpin enters AI server industry with liquid cooling subsidiary

Tienpin United has announced a strategic shift from life services to the artificial intelligence sector. In collaboration with Xinwei, the company has launched Naike Clean Technology to enter the market for critical cleaning services of AI water-cooled servers.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Humanoid robots enter combat arena as China accelerates mass production push

The year 2025 marks a pivotal moment for humanoid robotics as the technology transitions from science fiction to commercial reality. China hosted the world's first competitive humanoid robot combat tournament on May 25, 2025, in Hangzhou, signaling the industry's rapid evolution beyond traditional applications.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Samsung falls to fourth in global CIS market with China’s rise

Samsung Electronics has slipped out of the top three in the global CMOS image sensor (CIS) market for the first time in years, according to newly released data from market research firms. Once the second-largest supplier by shipment volume in 2023, Samsung now ranks fourth, underscoring the growing pressure it faces from China's rapidly evolving semiconductor ecosystem.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Who suffers as Trump targets Apple over iPhone production?

US President Donald Trump recently demanded that Apple relocate the assembly and production of iPhones to the US. Otherwise, a 25% tariff would be imposed on iPhones and other smartphones manufactured overseas, reigniting market concerns. Generally, it is believed that Trump's move against Apple will ultimately amount to little more than an empty threat. This reckless approach could impose greater operational pressures on the supply chain while causing unintended harm to American industries themselves.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

China reportedly drafts long-term tech self-reliance plan as 'Made in China 2025' nears completion

As China approaches the end of its "Made in China 2025" initiative, Bloomberg, citing sources, reported that Beijing is drafting a comprehensive plan to guide technological self-reliance over the next decade. The move signals China's intent to strengthen its advanced manufacturing capabilities amid US-led efforts to reshore manufacturing and internal economic rebalancing.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Computex 2025: Telangana state courts Taiwanese firms for electronics production

A high-level delegation from the Government of Telangana, India, led by senior bureaucrat Narsimha Reddy IAS, participated in COMPUTEX Taipei 2025 to promote what the state describes as its ambition to emerge as a manufacturing powerhouse for electronics. According to officials, the visit marks a significant stride in Telangana's ongoing engagement with the Taiwanese tech ecosystem to attract investments and advance electronics production within India.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

Univacco to open third Vietnam plant to offset tariff risks and boost EU sales

Taiwanese vacuum coating film specialist Univacco Technology plans to establish its third manufacturing facility in Vietnam, as part of a broader strategy to diversify supply chains, lower operating costs, and sharpen its edge in the European market. The move, greenlit at a recent shareholders' meeting, reflects the company's response to persistent global economic volatility and geopolitical headwinds.

Tuesday 27 May 2025

AI inference drives storage's critical role; Silicon Motion enters Nvidia ecosystem

AI computing is accelerating the deployment of data center infrastructure, with Nvidia placing greater emphasis on inference computing models and expanding its ecosystem. This trend is expected to boost growth opportunities for AI applications and significantly increase the importance of large-capacity storage.

Monday 26 May 2025

AI gives small chipmakers a shot at the big leagues

Taiwanese IC design companies made a strong showing at Computex 2025, using the global stage to spotlight cutting-edge technologies developed for AI applications. While tech giants like MediaTek and Realtek brought their entire product portfolios to the event, a wave of small and mid-sized firms—including Elan Microelectronics, FocalTech, Etron, Microip, and the Egis Technology Group—are showcasing targeted innovations that signal the island's growing AI ambitions.

Monday 26 May 2025

Data Image plans system solution expansion amid revenue decline

Data Image Corporation, a Qisda Group subsidiary outlined plans to expand complete system solutions including charging station displays and instrument panels for specialty vehicles.

Monday 26 May 2025

China's export controls on advanced equipment disrupt global manufacturing expansion

As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global supply chains, manufacturers expanding production overseas are facing fresh hurdles due to China's tighter export controls on advanced equipment and materials. While the impact on production capacity remains limited for now, sources say these measures are causing delays in setting up new manufacturing lines abroad, prompting companies to turn to local suppliers for critical support.

Monday 26 May 2025

Zhen Ding eyes server market as Foxconn-Nvidia alliance signals new AI chapter

In a landmark announcement at Computex this week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled plans to partner with Foxconn in establishing Taiwan's most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputing center — an "AI Factory" aimed at accelerating the island's capabilities in AI research and application. Sources indicate that the first phase of the initiative will break ground in Kaohsiung.

Monday 26 May 2025

Taiwan's President Lai calls for resilient chip alliances to counter dumping and fortify innovation

Taiwan's President Ching-te Lai, speaking at the Global Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership Forum held in Taipei on May 23, warned that the semiconductor industry is facing increasing threats from low-price dumping, particularly in mature process technologies. He urged stronger international collaboration to forge resilient semiconductor supply chain partnerships, thus preventing any single country from disrupting the industry with unfair pricing that stifles innovation and hinders long-term development.

Monday 26 May 2025

QPC plans major transformation in 2025 with 75% of products exported

Qualipoly Chemical Corporation (QPC) announced that 2025 will be a year of significant transformation. The Annan plant is expected to begin trial production and ramp up operations in the third quarter, while the Yong'an plant is currently investing in building large-scale electronic chemical material reactors and planning subsequent capacity expansions. Additional ongoing projects include expanding PSMA production capacity and constructing automated warehousing facilities.

Monday 26 May 2025

IFA Berlin CEO: Asian companies flocking to Europe as US tariff fears mount

Asian technology companies are scrambling for exhibition space at Europe's largest consumer electronics show as Trump administration tariff policies drive them away from the US market, according to the chief executive of IFA Berlin.

More ICT manufacturing coverage

BIZ FOCUS

May 28, 12:20

Edge AI plays the role of innovation engine ADLINK smart edge computing applications forum focuses on smart transformation and sustainable opportunities

MOST-READ
7 DAYS NEWS

Full list

MULTIMEDIA

iPhone economics, disrupted

INDUSTRY GUIDEBOOKS

Geopolitics may bring dramatic shifts in semiconductor industry

RESEARCH INSIGHTS

Intel signals overhaul of IDM 2.0 and foundry strategy with Lip-Bu Tan's appointment, says DIGITIMES