Tariff shifts drive Macroblock’s auto chip surge

As geopolitical strains between the United States and China reshape global supply chains, Taiwanese LED driver IC maker Macroblock is seeing tangible benefits in the automotive sector, even as tariff headwinds persist. While exports to the US from its Chinese clients face tariff pressure, Chinese automakers pivoting toward US-linked supply chains are creating new opportunities. This shift has improved order visibility for automotive applications through the end of 2025.

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Tariff reprieve clogs ports, sends urgent cargo to the skies

The 90-day tariff grace period introduced by the US has triggered a surge in sea freight demand, overwhelming the container shipping market and prompting a potential shift of urgent orders to air cargo. EVA Air president Chia-Ming Sun said that the company anticipates increased demand for air freight in the coming months and is preparing to adjust aircraft capacity accordingly.

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Luxshare makes Suzhou epicenter of its US$4.2B push into acoustics, robotics, and wearable tech

Following a high-profile signing in February, Luxshare Precision has launched the next phase of its major project in Kunshan, Suzhou. According to the official WeChat account “Kunshan Release” on May 20, the company’s Phase I acoustic industry facility at Luxshare Science Park in Jinxi Town has commenced production, with construction on Phase II now underway.

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Seagate warns of data center carbon crisis as AI storage demands triple

Seagate Technology Holdings Plc warned that AI’s exploding demand for data storage is fueling a carbon crisis in data centers, even as it unveiled next-gen storage solutions at Computex 2025. The company projects that global data volume will triple between 2023 and 2028, surpassing zettabyte levels and outpacing current manufacturing capabilities. A survey of over 300 data center professionals conducted by Seagate identified high energy consumption as the top obstacle to sustainable expansion.

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TSMC’s VisEra boosts SiPh; CIS grows while MOE declines

VisEra, an optical component manufacturer under TSMC, held its shareholders meeting to outline its outlook for 2025. Chairman Robert Kuan told reporters that revenue growth will primarily come from the CMOS image sensor (CIS) business, driven by three major trends: increased market share of Android smartphones, the mainstream adoption of high-megapixel cameras, and expanding automotive demand into affordable vehicle segments. Notably, VisEra is also venturing into the next-generation key technology of the AI era—SiPh.

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