Lynas Rare Earths has achieved first production of samarium oxide at Lynas Malaysia, expanding its range of separated heavy rare earth oxides to three and reinforcing its status as the only commercial producer of separated HRE oxides outside China, developments that could affect global supply chains for high-performance magnets and advanced technologies

Fitpower officially inaugurated its new office in Puchong Financial Corporate Center (PFCC), Selangor, Malaysia, this week, marking the launch of its Malaysian subsidiary. The move expands Fitipower's global R&D footprint and deepens collaboration within Southeast Asia's semiconductor supply chain

Intel's advanced packaging complex in Malaysia is expected to begin operations later this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, as the company advances its assembly and testing capabilities and the government emphasises upskilling local talent

Display driver IC (DDIC) packaging leader Chipbond outlined three key growth drivers at its recent earnings call that are expected to support its core driver IC business despite industry headwinds through 2026. While consumer electronics demand may face pressure from memory price declines, these new initiatives aim to offset sector downturns

Lynas Rare Earths has signed a binding letter of intent to supply rare earth oxides to the US Department of Defense (DOD) over the next four years. According to Lynas, the agreement is valued at US$96 million and covers both heavy and light rare earth products

ByteDance, the Chinese technology company best known as the owner of TikTok, is seeking to secure large amounts of advanced artificial intelligence computing power outside China, underscoring the growing geopolitical tensions surrounding the global AI chip supply chain

The global semiconductor industry is rapidly expanding production capacity, with Taiwan, the US, and China accelerating memory, advanced packaging, and wafer foundry construction plans. Supply chain sources report a sharp order increase for 2026, driven not only by TSMC's large-scale expansions in Taiwan and the US but also by accelerated memory fab projects from Nanya Technology and Micron, alongside continuous growth in China's semiconductor output

Often dubbed the "Little Red Dot," Singapore is a city-state that lacks natural resources, and previously even had to turn to neighboring countries for drinking water. Yet in a span of just six decades, it has transformed from a barren island expelled by Malaysia into an advanced nation with one of the highest per capita incomes worldwide and now wields significant influence on the global stage

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on March 2 and agreed to launch negotiations to upgrade the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). The upgrade expands cooperation beyond traditional trade into artificial intelligence (AI), small modular reactors (SMR), space and satellite technology, and quantum science, reflecting a shift toward structured technology and energy collaboration

Taiwan-based Fulltech Fiber Glass (FFG) said it approved a capex plan via its Thailand subsidiary to build a new plant with about THB3.1 billion (approx. US$99 million) in investment, aiming to begin production capacity by 2027

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is probing the MYR1.11 billion (US$250 million) agreement with UK-based Arm Holdings amid seizures, arrests, and political fallout. The government maintains the Cabinet-approved deal is still in force, and ministers have pledged cooperation with investigators

Scooters remain a vital mode of daily transport in Vietnam, and buoyed by policy support and demographic trends, the country is becoming a central battleground for the global electric scooter industry. Gogoro has intensified its expansion there, forming a joint venture with Castrol and planning pilots and product launches in 2026

The US Supreme Court overturned President Donald Trump's Section 301 tariffs on January 20, a move that immediately promised relief to companies that had been paying the levies, including Apple Inc. Still, the administration responded with a new executive order imposing a 15% tariff on all imports for 150 days

US President Donald Trump and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto finalized a trade agreement on February 19, a deal that is expected to allow Indonesia to avoid the threatened 32% tariffs and instead face a 19% rate for most goods. In exchange, Jakarta will facilitate the purchase of an estimated $33 billion in American goods, primarily in the agricultural and energy sectors