Samsung SDI, a battery and electronic materials manufacturer, has entered an agreement to help US-based Forge Nano build a 3 GWh per year battery manufacturing site in Morrisville, North Carolina. The deal capitalizes on both Samsung’s desire to avoid US tariffs and the American military’s goal to develop non-China supply chains, including in batteries.

South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched chemical safety inspections at 25 semiconductor manufacturers, including SK Hynix, after a series of fluorine gas leaks at chip plants raised fresh concerns over industrial accidents.

Preface

IEI Integration said its first-quarter margin was squeezed by higher component costs and a changing product mix, but it expects a second-quarter rebound as high-end video conferencing shipments ramp up. The outlook matters for global industrial and enterprise technology buyers facing tighter supply, shifting production, and uneven demand across markets.

Acer channel arm Weblink International remains upbeat on the second half of 2026, even as the PC industry looks increasingly likely to see weaker demand than in the first half.

South Korea’s plan to push semiconductor investment beyond the greater Seoul area is taking clearer shape, with Samsung Electronics reportedly moving closer to a new chip hub in Gwangju while SK Hynix continues to weigh a site in South Jeolla Province against overseas investment options.