The petrochemical industry has been stuck in an intensely competitive red ocean market. The Chinese government has begun promoting measures to curb excessive internal competition, and the cycle of low-price competition is expected to ease in 2026. Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation (FCFC) launched a streamlining plan in the second half of 2025 and is actively shifting toward the compound plastics market. To enter higher-end markets, FCFC plans to complete 5N hydrogen purification equipment by 2027 to secure a foothold in the electronics industry supply chain, while continuing research and development in silicon carbide to align with advanced chip thermal management technologies.

Quanta Computer held its year-end banquet on the evening of January 15, 2026, during which company chairman Barry Lam highlighted three major waves that hit 2025. He named the tariff war, the all-out battle over artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and sweeping changes in AI server design as key challenges. Despite this, Quanta was still able to meet all customer requirements, with both revenue and profits reaching record highs. He added that the AI boom will not be limited to 2026, but is expected to continue surging over the next two to three years.

Following the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) announcement of the quantum computing mainframe construction project, attention has focused on whether Taiwan will use a quantum computer developed by Academia Sinica or procure one from abroad. Sources reveal that the National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC) under the National Applied Research Laboratories (NIAR) has launched an international tender. If IBM Quantum bids and wins, the deal hinges on whether the US government permits export, as commercial quantum computers are currently banned from overseas sales.

Unlike previous CES editions that focused on full humanoid robot systems, CES 2026 highlighted the standalone importance of dexterous hands. As the core interface for human–machine interaction, dexterous hands set the ceiling for robotic performance and represent the "last mile" in humanoid robot capability.

The long-discussed Taiwan-US tariff negotiations have finally concluded, agreeing on US$500 billion investment and reciprocal tariffs aligned with those of the EU, Japan, and South Korea without stacking. These terms match disclosures from US sources.

While CES 2025 focused on robots' mobility, humanoid robots at the 2026 event displayed impressive improvements. They showed off folding paper pinwheels, folding clothes, playing ping-pong, and performing four-hand piano duets. This innovation depends on dexterous hand technology, the determining factor for whether robots can be commercialized. The number of exhibitors specializing in dexterous hands has noticeably increased this year, revealing three clear trends.

Taiwan's Executive Yuan announced early Thursday that it had secured preferential tariff treatment from the United States on semiconductors and related products, marking a significant breakthrough in bilateral trade negotiations amid intensifying geopolitical and supply-chain pressures.

The rapid evolution of robots with stable gait and agile manipulation—spotlighted at CES 2026—signals that robots integrated into daily life are moving from vision to reality. Seizing this momentum, Taiwan is launching a national, mission-driven initiative to accelerate smart robot research, industry development, and talent cultivation.

Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) announced on January 14 that the 2026 Taiwan Foxconn Ladies Golf Tournament, which it sponsors, has officially been elevated to a main tour event on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) tour. Japan's SoftBank Group is also participating as a sponsor for the first time, highlighting that the collaboration between the two companies extends beyond AI and robotics into brand and corporate culture integration.

Delta Electronics India is set to significantly expand its manufacturing footprint in India, reflecting the company's confidence in the country's growing semiconductor and electronics ecosystem and its alignment with the government's 'Make in India' initiative. The move builds on Delta's longstanding presence in India, where the company has invested in R&D, industrial automation, and smart manufacturing solutions over the past decade.

Syntec Technology has reported a 29% increase in consolidated revenue for 2025, reaching NT$13.96 billion (approx. US$441 million), up 29% from the previous year, reflecting steady expansion amid rising demand for intelligent manufacturing solutions. The company attributed this growth to strong sales in the Chinese market and a shift toward high-end product offerings.

Aurotek Corp. reported historic revenue figures for December 2025 and the full year, driven by growth in smart manufacturing, automation equipment, and robotics. The company recorded consolidated revenue of NT$285 million (US$9.01 million) in December, a 50.62% month-over-month increase and a 42.42% year-over-year increase. Full-year revenue reached NT$2.496 billion, up 50.12% compared to 2024.

Global memory shortages are expected to continue until late 2027, leading to higher costs for PCs, tablets, and smartphones. In an interview with The Register, IDC research manager Jitesh Ubrani said the industry once anticipated memory prices stabilizing in 2026, but the latest consensus is that no substantial decline will occur before late 2027—only a halt in price increases.

China has tightened export controls on rare earths and other dual-use materials bound for Japan, prompting Tokyo to formalise a rare-earth stockpiling policy and work with G7 partners to accelerate efforts to reduce supply-chain dependence on China.

Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) has introduced an indoor drone inspection system at its thermal power plants, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze boiler tube surfaces in real time and automatically detect cracks. This development replaces the traditional, labor-intensive method of erecting scaffolding to manually inspect the tubes, enabling broader coverage and speeding up repair processes.

Under the neon glow of CES 2026, the global auto industry appeared to be undergoing a quiet but consequential shift. The focus was no longer confined to vehicle electronics or electrification. Instead, it had expanded into a neighboring — and potentially transformative — domain: artificial-intelligence-driven robotics.

Genomics BioSci & Tech (Genomics) reported consolidated revenue of NT$112 million (US$3.54 million) in December 2025, setting a new single-month record with an 86.11% increase from November and 81.52% growth year-over-year. This strong finish contributed to full-year consolidated revenue of NT$708 million, a historic high and a 36.86% increase from 2024.

Tatung Co. has identified 2026 as a pivotal year to advance its transformation efforts, focusing on power, energy, and technology sectors following recent board elections and management restructuring. The company's power business and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) are driving growth, supported by strong export orders and increased production.

U-Best Innovative, a subsidiary of Sun Yad Group, announced the development of a water-based resin developed in collaboration with major domestic manufacturers of automotive interior materials. The company is also expanding partnerships with local firms to enter sectors including electronics, medical devices, green energy, optical films, and flexible HC materials.

Luxshare Precision Industry said it has moved to terminate an agreement to buy an India-based business asset package from Wingtech Technology after the transfer was blocked by legal restrictions, including seizures and freezes, escalating a cross-border dispute that both sides have now taken to arbitration in Singapore.

Formosa Plastics Group (FPG) announced preliminary consolidated financial results for 2025 on January 12, reporting a combined net loss after tax of approximately NT$1.093 billion (US$34.56 million), a reversal from a net profit of NT$8.458 billion in 2024. Among its four major companies, Nan Ya Plastics and Formosa Petrochemical Corporation (FPCC) posted profit growth, while Formosa Plastics Corporation (FPC) recorded a wider loss, and Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation (FCFC) posted its first-ever loss since listing.

Darfon is actively expanding into the energy and high-end niche application markets. Its subsidiary focused on new energy solutions, Darfon Energy Tech, announced on January 12, 2026, that its board approved a cash acquisition of up to NT$540 million (approx. US$17.1 million) for 100% equity in Hitron. This move reportedly aims to integrate both companies' power supply technology strengths and further expand their footprint in edge AI, industrial control, and medical application markets.

At CES 2026, Nvidia revealed Vera Rubin, which significantly increases server power consumption, underscoring the urgent need for improved power delivery and energy efficiency. This surge in computing demands is driving Taiwanese microcontroller unit (MCU) manufacturers to develop advanced cooling fan solutions to meet AI server requirements.

Acer is promoting the independent development of its subsidiaries, using a multi-faceted strategy to drive group growth. Three subsidiaries under Acer's Pan-Asia operations headquarters are optimistic about their 2026 outlook, each targeting double-digit growth. Atlos will expand its AI server business; HSN will expand into multiple countries, brands, and product categories; and Acer Intelligence Space (ITS) will expand into home appliances under the Acerpure brand.