Supply Chain

    24 October 2026
    Mitsubishi Materials produces thermistors smaller than 1 millimeter for use in optical transceivers. (Mitsubishi Materials)
    Brazilian presidential candidates Flavio Bolsonaro, left, and incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva take part in a debate in Sao Paulo on Oct. 18, ahead of the runoff vote.
    Supply Chain

    Brazil election to impact rare-earth race as West seeks China balance

    Lula and Bolsonaro offer competing visions for investment in critical minerals

    23 October 2026
    Tanaka MEP Refinery's recycling plant, announced this month, will recover scrap containing precious metals from the production of semiconductors and electronic components. (Tanaka Precious Metal)
    Materials

    Malaysia precious metal recycling plant to supply gold for chipmaking

    Joint venture of Japan's Tanaka, Malaysian recycler MEP targets April 2029 start

    23 October 2026
    Micron workers at the company's Taoyuan facility in Taiwan have been locked in a dispute with management over bonuses and profit-sharing as the AI boom nets record profits for memory chipmakers.
    Semiconductors

    Taiwan's first-ever chip workers strike hits Micron plant

    Dispute is over pay and bonuses not reflecting AI memory profits

    22 October 2026
    Smartphones in the new Find X10 series, launched at an Oppo event in Mallorca, Spain on Oct. 21, feature Hasselblad lenses. (Oppo)
    Technology

    China's Oppo pushes premium smartphones to combat component crunch

    World's No. 4 handset maker aims to double high-end sales in Europe in 2027

    22 October 2026
    A liquefied petroleum gas cylinder dealer in Dhaka, pictured on Aug. 17. Despite Bangladesh importing sufficient quantities of LPG, shortages have appeared across the supply chain.
    Energy

    Bangladesh cooking gas price spike prompts blame game

    Government, importers and distributors disagree over cause of LPG shortages

    20 October 2026
    Japan's JX Advanced Metals has facilities that can extract lithium, nickel and cobalt from used EV batteries. (Photo by Eiki Hayashi)
    Supply Chain

    As EV adoption slows, battery recyclers beyond China struggle to stay in the game

    Global recycling capacity far exceeds amount of discarded materials

    19 October 2026
    While some Indian chemical companies are betting on a Tata Electronics-built fab in the state of Gujarat to develop their customer base and prove their quality, other companies are looking to foreign joint ventures to speed up the process.
    Semiconductors

    Indian chemical firms turn to foreign partners to crack chip supply chains

    With need to prove quality, lack of domestic customers pushes firms to seek tie-ups abroad

    19 October 2026
    Recognized gold imports to Japan totaled 10 tons in 2025, while exports reached 228 tons.
    Trade

    Japan to prohibit untraced gold exports, clamping down on tax evasion

    Finance Ministry seeks stronger customs authority to combat smuggling

    18 October 2026
     U.S. and China are leading different AI blocs and courting countries to join.
    Artificial intelligence

    Southeast Asia caught amid competing US and Chinese AI blocs

    Concerns grow that countries may be forced to pick sides, affecting security and businesses

    17 October 2026
    FICG began mass production earlier this year at its first Malaysian factory under its subsidiary Pro3C, and announced major expansion plans at this week's official opening ceremony. (Photo by Lauly Li)
    Supply Chain

    Optical parts maker to triple Malaysian capacity to tackle AI supply crunch

    Taiwan's FICG pursues China +1 strategy at request of US customers

    16 October 2026
    Kioxia's April-September earnings, due out Oct. 30, are expected to show a historic profit gain. (Kioxia)
    Semiconductors

    Japan's Kioxia sheds two-thirds of peak market value as China chip rivals emerge

    Rising cost of data center debt also poses a risk to memory supplier

    16 October 2026
    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has been one of the biggest winners from the AI investment boom.
    Semiconductors

    TSMC eyes Texas and Musk Terafab project for US expansion

    Chipmaker building new plants at 'unprecedented pace' on 'extremely robust' demand

    15 October 2026
    Rajat Verma, founder and CEO of critical minerals company Lohum, says setting up lithium processing capacity in Zimbabwe was critical for his business as it works to reduce India's reliance on China. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Lohum)
    Interview

    India's Lohum targets EV batteries after opening Zimbabwe lithium mine

    Company aiming for 30,000 tons of lithium carbonate refining capacity, CEO says

    15 October 2026
    Mazda has automated part of the production of wiring harnesses for the CX-5 sport utility vehicle. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
    Automobiles

    Mazda brings part of its supply chain back to Japan with help from robots

    Automaker teams up with Yazaki to automate assembly of labor-intensive wire harnesses

    15 October 2026
    Semiconductor materials supplier Qnity is positioning manufacturing facilities, like this plant in Taiwan, close to customers to help shorten and strengthen supply chains. (Photo courtesy of Qnity)
    Interview

    TSMC, Intel supplier Qnity bets on local production to win business

    Materials maker says being closer to chip clients strengthens supply chain

    14 October 2026
    Hyundai Motor will invest to expand manufacturing capacity in India, looking to boost exports to other emerging markets. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanada)
    Automobiles

    Hyundai to invest $15.5bn in Indian manufacturing, R&D

    Country's once-No. 2 automaker looks to regain momentum as competition intensifies

    14 October 2026
    Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung.
    International relations

    Taiwan warns Europe of dangers of dependence on China

    Island's foreign minister speaks at Warsaw Security Forum

    14 October 2026
    Stream article image
    Podcast: Tech Latest

    Is Singapore now a key link in AI supply chain?

    Tech Latest: Tune in to Nikkei Asia's podcast for the freshest updates on the tech sector

    13 October 2026
    The Mobara plant made LCDs for iPhones, but Apple later switched to a different display technology. (Source photos by Japan Display and Nikkei)
    Supply Chain

    Former iPhone display plant in Japan to start new life in chip supply chain

    JDI's Mobara factory to churn out package substrates for fifth owner Shinko Electric

    12 October 2026
    Hertha Metals' demonstration facility in Texas. The company has broken ground on a full-scale plant. (Hertha Metals)
    Materials

    The Pentagon- and Toyota-backed startup trying to cut US reliance on China iron

    Hertha Metals breaks ground on Texas plant to make rare-earth magnet material

    12 October 2026
    Citizen Machinery will install automated equipment at its plant in Miyota, Japan, to keep up with orders. (Photo by Miki Hiasa)
    Business trends

    Japan machine tool order backlog hits all-time high on AI demand

    Shibaura Machine and others scramble to raise output of chip, aerospace equipment

    10 October 2026
    The iPhone 18 Pro was launched in September, but its reception from consumers is reported to be cooler than expected, with a higher price tag a factor.
    Technology

    Exclusive: Apple cuts iPhone 18 Pro orders due to soft demand

    Suppliers blame premium handsets' price hike for weaker consumer uptake

    9 October 2026
    Ministers from the Asia Zero Emission Community met in Manila on Thursday. (Photo by Yuki Fujita)
    Energy

    Japan-led Asia decarbonization bloc pivots to oil stockpiling measures

    Mideast volatility has countries prioritizing energy security over green initiatives

    9 October 2026
    Chipmaker Samsung Electronics is rushing to build a new factory near Seoul to meet growing demand. (Photo by Ahn Seong-bok)
    Semiconductors

    Samsung, SK Hynix record earnings fuel South Korea spending on AI, youth

    Chipmaking giants' tax contributions reinvested into future growth

    9 October 2026
    Mitsubishi Materials has begun full-scale imports of tungsten from Vietnam, including products recycled from carbide scrap. (Mitsubishi Materials)
    Supply Chain

    Japan's Mitsubishi Materials taps Vietnam for tungsten as China alternative

    High cost of recycled metal forces carbide toolmaker to raise its prices

    9 October 2026
    Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said his country is dealing with inflation issues like several other countries. (Photo by Koji Nozawa)
    Defense

    Australia will buy Japan frigates despite budget cuts: finance chief

    Canberra plans to lift defense spending amid inflation and rising interest rates

    8 October 2026
    Taiwanese companies are building more robust supply chains to handle AI server production. (Photo by Ryosuke Eguchi)
    Business trends

    TSMC and other Taiwan players boost AI spending in US, Southeast Asia

    Companies look to rebalance supply chains as AI demand grows worldwide

    7 October 2026
    Huawei first paid to license Qualcomm patents in 2001. A new cross-licensing deal, if approved, will make Qualcomm the net payer for the first time. (Source photos by Reuters)
    Huawei crackdown

    Qualcomm to pay Huawei for first time in 5G, AI patent breakthrough

    Mobile chipmakers' licensing deal will need U.S. regulatory approval

    6 October 2026
    Nitori Holdings expects the recycling center to cut annual disposal and processing costs by more than 100 million yen. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
    Consumer

    Nitori tackles Japan's furniture waste with giant recycling center

    Market leader aims to turn discarded sofas, tables into profitable circular supply chain

    4 October 2026