Semiconductor industry

Dutch chip equipment maker ASML says it is not selling its chipmaking machines in Europe, warning that the region risks falling behind the US, China and India in semiconductors. The remarks are drawing attention to Europe's limited role in advanced chip manufacturing despite hosting ASML itself, and are fueling debate about industrial policy and investment in the region.

Nvidia and AMD are pressing the Trump administration to allow continued exports of their semiconductor products to China, according to Politico. The two US chipmakers rely heavily on Chinese sales, and tighter export controls or licensing rules could hit billions of dollars in revenue. The appeal sets up a clash between Washington's national security concerns over advanced chips and the industry's commercial interests in one of its largest markets.

Taiwan's dominance in semiconductor manufacturing, led by TSMC, is being described as a 'silicon shield' that deters Chinese aggression while making the island indispensable to the United States in the AI era. As artificial intelligence drives global demand for advanced chips, control over Taiwan's chip industry has become central to both its security and US strategic interests, intensifying debate over cross-strait tensions.

Reporting from Taipei frames Taiwan as the potential deciding factor in the escalating technology rivalry between the United States and China. Taiwan's tech industry produces more than 90 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors, the chips that power AI servers, giving the island outsized strategic importance as both superpowers compete for dominance in artificial intelligence.

China has released a new innovation blueprint that puts artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies at the center of its national development strategy. The plan signals Beijing's intent to accelerate self-reliance in advanced tech and strengthen its position in global competition over AI, semiconductors and emerging industries.

The United States and China are weighing a deal that would lift roughly US$60 billion worth of tariffs, but semiconductors are expected to remain outside the arrangement. Reports indicate both sides see room for partial de-escalation in their trade dispute, while strategically sensitive chip-related goods stay protected.

Reports say China could permit its major technology companies to purchase new Nvidia chips, a shift in its stance on the US chipmaker's products. The move would matter for both Chinese AI development and Nvidia's access to a key market, though details on which chips and under what conditions remain unclear.

Reports indicate China is considering relaxing restrictions on NVIDIA's AI chips, a potential shift in its stance on foreign semiconductors amid the ongoing US-China technology standoff. Any easing would affect Chinese companies seeking high-end AI hardware and could reshape the competitive landscape for global chipmakers.

Singapore is stepping up its investment in the semiconductor sector, according to the Financial Times. The city-state has long been a key hub for chip manufacturing and research, hosting major global players, and is now positioning itself to capture a larger share of an industry reshaped by supply-chain shifts and government subsidy races worldwide.

Nvidia's newest AI chips could be cleared for sale in China, according to a MarketScreener report. The story is drawing attention because US export controls have sharply restricted Nvidia's ability to sell advanced chips to Chinese customers, so any reopening of that market would be a major shift for the semiconductor industry and for US-China tech relations.

Nvidia is reportedly pushing into glass substrate packaging for its chips, a manufacturing shift that could improve performance and density in future AI processors as traditional organic packaging approaches physical limits. The report, picked up by 24/7 Wall St., suggests the move could reshape how advanced AI chips are built across the semiconductor industry. Details on timing and suppliers remain sparse.

China is considering allowing ByteDance and Alibaba to buy Nvidia's newest chips, according to a report by The Information. The deliberation comes amid ongoing US-China tensions over semiconductor exports, with Washington restricting sales of advanced Nvidia technology to Chinese companies. Any approval would signal a shift in Beijing's stance and could ease pressure on major Chinese AI firms seeking cutting-edge hardware.

Reports suggest China may allow Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase Nvidia's newest AI chips, a shift from earlier restrictions on advanced US semiconductor exports. If confirmed, the move would ease access to critical hardware for two of China's largest technology companies and could signal a thaw in US-China tensions over chip trade. Observers are watching for official confirmation from both governments.

ASML, the Dutch chip equipment maker, says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026 and is calling on the EU to help create demand for its lithography machines. The comments highlight Europe's weak semiconductor manufacturing base, as ASML's sales remain concentrated in Asia, particularly Taiwan, South Korea and China.

Market chatter is focusing on the possibility that Nvidia's new AI chips could be sold in the Chinese market. The report, carried by financial media, has drawn attention from investors watching US-China semiconductor export restrictions. Any move by Nvidia to supply advanced AI hardware to China would have significant implications for the global chip industry and trade policy.

China may permit Alibaba to purchase Nvidia's RTX chips, according to a report by The Information picked up by NDTV Profit. The reported move would mark a significant shift in China's stance on foreign semiconductor purchases amid ongoing US-China technology tensions. The news is drawing attention across global semiconductor and tech industry watchers, with implications for both Nvidia's China business and Chinese AI development.

India is looking to established semiconductor centres across Asia as it works to accelerate its chip manufacturing ambitions. The report indicates New Delhi is drawing on the experience and supply chains of regional hubs to fast-track development of its domestic semiconductor industry, a key priority in its industrial policy.

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged increased investment in artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. She positioned the sectors as key to India's economic and technological ambitions, aligning with the government's push to attract chip fabrication projects and build AI capacity. The remarks come as countries compete for investment in these strategic industries.

New data from South Korea shows that nearly four out of ten reported leaks of industrial technology involve semiconductor-related know-how. The figures underline growing concern in Seoul over the theft of critical chip technology, a sector central to the country's economy and to intensifying global competition over semiconductor supply chains.

Researchers are applying semiconductor chipmaking techniques to build improved electric vehicle batteries, according to a report by SciTechDaily. The approach adapts lithography-based manufacturing methods from the chip industry to battery production, potentially improving battery performance. Details on which institutions are involved and the specific results have not been widely reported, but the cross-industry idea is drawing attention in technology and energy circles.

Huawei's latest smartphone chip is closing the performance gap with leading competitors, according to industry coverage. The development signals continued progress by the Chinese tech firm in domestic semiconductor design despite export restrictions limiting its access to advanced foreign chip technology.

Apple and Qualcomm have renewed their chip licensing agreement, extending a business relationship that has swung between partnership and litigation over the years. Qualcomm supplies modem chips for iPhones under licensing terms, and the renewal keeps that arrangement in place. The deal matters for the semiconductor and smartphone industries since both companies depend on the continued supply relationship.

New data reported by The Korea Times shows that nearly 40% of South Korea's industrial technology leak cases involve semiconductor technologies. The figure highlights how heavily the country's flagship chip industry is targeted for industrial espionage, reinforcing concerns in Seoul about protecting critical technologies amid intense global competition over semiconductors.