These are in-depth pre- and post-show reports on major international trade fairs, held in Taiwan and other countries with significant participation by Taiwanese manufacturers and exporters. They are offered to help global buyers and other readers better understand what is going on at the fairs and the latest offerings by Taiwanese exhibitors.
Aside from the ongoing chip shortage situation that shows no sign of abating, despite chip makers investing in new factories, industry experts believe could last well into 2022. Automotive brands across the board have announced additional factory downtime; among these companies include Toyota, which worryingly reported cutting back 40% production of its output. It appears that chip shortages shou...
Taiwan's machinery exports between January and July continued to show an upward growth trajectory, reaching USD$18.556 billion, a 28.1% year-on-year growth, reported the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI). That would be $522.562 billion in Taiwan dollars, a 20.4% annual growth, marking a record high in the same period. Moreover, machinery exports have maintained double-digit growth f...
Taiwan's local outbreak between May and July has eased up as successful measures essentially stamped out the local spread and amid rising inoculation rates. However, this is only to see the rest of the world buckle against the Delta variant after global economies enjoyed a brief respite over the spring and early summer. What's worryingly is how aside from East Asian nations, where the world's maj...
The steel markets in Vietnam and Malaysia have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 surge in Southeast Asia. China Steel experts say while demand exists, it remains overshadowed by the pandemic. A strong rebound is expected once the outbreak lets up, they say. Lockdown restrictions on Ho Chi Minh City and nationwide have led to closures and challenges in importing materials and exporting pro...
Leading think tank Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) issued its monthly manufacturing composite indicators for July this week, signaling a decline through its index gauging the sector's climate, though it showed a continued rapid growth phase. TIER's composite manufacturing index declined 1.16 points to 16.52 in July, a small decline from June's score of 17.68. The index remained i...
An unprecedented situation is brewing in the shipping sector after over a year of supply chain issues. With port congestion, container shortages, and backed-up sea shipping, more and more companies are choosing to charter containerships long-term to bypass the logistics hurdles. The news comes after reports of TSMC chartering its own containership to ensure timely delivery of semiconductor ch...
The stable uptick in demand and sales in the fastener industry are positive indicators for the upcoming months and beyond. For instance, big-name fastener suppliers report great businesses due to fastener-intensive sectors in other countries fueling the demand. In recent news, Taiwanese fastener maker Chun Yu Works reported an optimistic future, presenting order visibility up to the first quar...
Southeast Asian-based priority electronic component plants continue to experience a squeeze as the Delta variant-fueled COVID-19 outbreak continues to ravage the region, prompting industry experts to warn of further shortages ahead. Top MLCC supplier Murata Mfg.'s inductor plant in Dong Nai, Vietnam, is slated to reopen for operations next Monday amid the worse COVID-19 outbreak in the country...
With third-generation semiconductors primarily using emerging materials such as GaN and SiC, industry experts have pointed out that the most relevant field for SiC will be electric vehicles, while GaN will focus on fast charging capabilities in smart mobile devices. While Taiwanese-based companies are actively investing in third-generation semiconductors, industry watchers also pointed out tha...
Several markets pose a great opportunity for Taiwanese suppliers, considering Taiwan's reputation in the information and technology industry, including 5G, EV, and low-Earth orbit satellites. Tung considers investment into these markets will significantly improve the country's competitiveness. In recent years, Pegatron has invested more and more into the EV market. The experience has prompted...
