Malaysia’s role as a key node in the global semiconductor supply chain is drawing sharper scrutiny as it deepens industrial ties with China while facing mounting trade and export control pressures from the United States. The latest example is SuperSiC’s new facility in Penang, launched by a subsidiary of China’s JSG.

Japanese semiconductor equipment maker Disco has revised its financial forecast for the second quarter of 2025, now expecting a consolidated profit of JPY23.7 billion (US$161 million), a slight 0.2% increase year-over-year. This revision overturns a previous forecast of a 30% profit decline and sets a new quarterly record.

As the global smartphone application processor market undergoes a major shift toward AI-driven performance, chip giants like MediaTek and Qualcomm are ramping up efforts to dominate the neural processing unit AI computing power playing field. This has triggered a series of upgrades in high-speed specifications, with semiconductor test interface companies such as WinWay Technology and Chunghwa Precision Test experiencing renewed growth momentum.