Cathay Chemical Works General Manager Zhicheng Hong stated that in 2024, the company faced significant challenges due to the downturn in China's economy and international geopolitical instability. However, the rise of AI technology has driven strong demand for heat-dissipation metals like copper, which, in turn, led to a surge in the international price of zinc blocks. From an average price of US$2,521 per ton at the beginning of the year, the price gradually climbed to US$ 3,043 per ton by year-end, marking an increase of 20.71%.
Taiwan's Wonderful Hi Tech Technology is aggressively entering the artificial intelligence market with high-speed internal cables and customized low-Earth orbit satellite solutions, targeting 20-25% compound annual revenue growth over the next five years, according to General Manager Cheng-Ya Zhang.
Although DeepSeek has been banned by government agencies in several countries, the China-developed open-source AI model is gaining recognition from leading US academic institutions like Stanford University and MIT. Its appeal lies in its high performance, affordability, energy efficiency, and open design—traits that stand out as GPU and HBM memory costs continue to impede scalable AI deployment.
Japanese company Toppan Holdings has decided to divest all its 53.1% stake in Taiwan-based Giantplus Technology, a manufacturer of small and medium-sized LCD panels, marking its exit from panel production. However, Toppan will continue to procure panels from Giantplus, a move expected to boost the latter's revenue and reinforce optimism for 2025.
Trans-Sun Materials Technology has been shifting its focus from distribution to high-value electronic functional materials while expanding into niche markets such as AI servers and smart robotics.
China's tech titans—Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent (collectively known as BAT)—are dramatically scaling up investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and capex, signaling aggressive intent in the escalating global AI race.
Flex, a leading manufacturing partner known for helping customers design and build products that improve lives, has announced the opening of its New Product Introduction (NPI) center in the Boston area. The center is dedicated to supporting healthcare clients by streamlining product development from prototype to production, ensuring faster time-to-market with reduced risks.
VS Industry, a Malaysia-based EMS provider, reported a quarterly revenue increase alongside a rise in profit before tax from the previous quarter. However, a decline in six-month revenue is concerning, attributed to reduced sales orders and higher operating costs, highlighting potential vulnerabilities amid fluctuating market conditions.
India's smartphone manufacturing rose in 2024, driven by Apple and Samsung exports, with Foxconn, Tata, and Dixon Technologies significantly increasing production.
The rise of AI data centers is fueling demand for co-packaged optics (CPO) and silicon photonics (SiPh), compelling optical communications firm Browave to fast-track its CPO development. The company expects to complete CPO validation by late 2025, with initial shipments to follow. Several customer projects are already in progress, and full-scale production is set for 2026. While broader market adoption remains uncertain, Browave anticipates strong growth opportunities.
Avalue anticipates improved revenue and gross margins as project orders grow. With stable growth in vertical markets like healthcare and the order shipment ratio exceeding 1, Avalue is optimistic about its growth momentum and annual operations outlook for 2025.
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