semiconductor industry

Dutch chip equipment maker ASML said it is not selling its chipmaking machines in Europe, warning that the region risks falling behind the United States, China and India in semiconductors. The comments are drawing wide attention, with debate about Europe's industrial competitiveness and dependence on foreign technology picking up in both Indian and Chinese online discussions.

An ASML executive has said the Dutch chipmaking equipment giant currently sells none of its machines to customers in Europe, underscoring how concentrated semiconductor manufacturing is in Asia and the United States. The remark highlights Europe's limited role in advanced chip production despite EU ambitions to build domestic capacity.

China may allow Alibaba and ByteDance to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Information. The potential decision would mark a shift in Beijing's stance on access to advanced US semiconductor technology for its largest technology companies, which rely heavily on Nvidia chips for artificial intelligence development.

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.

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.

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.

US-based chipmaker GlobalFoundries reports strong demand for Chinese optical modules as data centre construction accelerates, and is expanding its presence in China to serve domestic clients amid the infrastructure boom. The news, reported by the South China Morning Post, highlights how data centre buildout continues to drive semiconductor and optical component supply chains even as US-China tech tensions persist.

NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conference (GTC) is in the spotlight. The event is the company's flagship gathering for announcing new chips, AI software and data-center products, and is closely watched across the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. Attention is focused on what NVIDIA will reveal next and what it signals for AI hardware demand.

Workers at the Taiwanese factory producing a snack widely used as a good-luck charm in the chip industry have voted 94% in favor of a strike, threatening production. The dispute centers on employees demanding a share of a $176 million factory sale to ASE. A halt would disrupt supply of a product that has become symbolic in semiconductor workplaces.

Bruker is targeting a revenue rebound in the fourth quarter, citing growing demand from the semiconductor industry driven by artificial intelligence. The scientific instruments maker says AI-related chipmaking is boosting orders, and a strong Q4 is seen as critical to recovering its financial performance for the year.

Chiayi Science Park in southern Taiwan is showing signs of moving into a third phase of development, according to a Taipei Times report. Expansion of the park would extend the science park model that has driven Taiwan's semiconductor and technology industry, bringing potential new investment, firms and jobs to the Chiayi area.