The US Department of Commerce (DOC) decided on October 1, 2024, to impose countervailing duties (CVD) on solar panels imported from four Southeast Asian (SEA) countries: Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. These nations accounted for 80% of US solar energy product imports in 2023, with many involved companies being China-funded.

SK Hynix is set to diversify its supply chain for thermocompression bonding (TCB) equipment used in HBM manufacturing. The company acquired an order of 30 units of TCB machines from ASM Pacific Technology (ASMPT) in September 2024, South Korean media outlet TheElec reports. This move aims to reduce the firm’s dependence on Hanmi Semiconductor while ramping up its production of 12-layer HBM3E products.

The AI server rack featuring Nvidia’s Blackwell chip will begin mass production in the fourth quarter of 2024, which is expected to increase the percentage of liquid cooling solutions. The OCP Global Summit to be held in mid-October provides the best stage for showcasing this technology.

Chinese automakers are keenly deploying in the EV markets of ASEAN, with local manufacturing and supply of key components playing a crucial role in their success.

The sluggish recovery in memory end-market demand has led to an early slowdown in supply chain activity, impacting the operational growth of memory packaging and testing firms in the second half of 2024. This trend underscores the need for strategic adjustments within the sector.

Global car sales are projected to grow slightly to around 90 million units in 2024, a modest increase that remains significant for supply chain players, according to Liteon Technology president Anson Chiu. He emphasized that there is no need for concern regarding overall market performance, as the company anticipates its revenue share from automotive electronics will surge to 15-20% in the future, driven by rising demand for high-value products.