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☆ Foxconn's May sales drop 9.5% y/y on smartphone weakness
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The first half of the year is traditionally slower for Taiwan tech manufacturers as major electronics vendors including Apple launch new products near the year-end holiday season. Apple (AAPL.O) results for the quarter ended April 1 beat expectations, helped by better-than-expected iPhone sales and inroads in India and other newer markets. However, Foxconn posted a 56% plunge in first-quarter net profit, lagging forecasts in its biggest quarterly fall in three years. It took a $565 million write-off linked to its 34% stake in Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp (6753.T) and said visibility for the full year was limited. Foxconn shares have risen 7.6% so far this year, lagging the broader Taiwan market (.TWII), which is up 18.2%.

Persons: Foxconn, Ben Blanchard, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Apple Inc, Hai Precision Industry Co, Taiwan, Apple, Sharp Corp, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, India, Taiwan

☆ Foxconn sees AI driving strong server demand, but full year to be flat
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"You can see the market for AI servers will rise much faster than expected. The Taiwanese company has a 40% global market share for servers and aims to further increase that, Liu added. In the first quarter, Foxconn's cloud and network products segment, which includes servers, accounted for 22% of revenue, second only to smart consumer electronics - which includes smartphones - at 56%. Foxconn, which assembles around 70% of iPhones, has been diversifying production away from China, whose strict COVID-19 restrictions disrupted its biggest iPhone plant last year. Liu said China, including its massive iPhone plant in China's Zhengzhou, remained very important for Foxconn.

Persons: Liu Young, Liu, Foxconn, Jun Seki, Ben Blanchard, Faith Hung, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Apple Inc, Hai Precision Industry Co, General Motor Co, Nissan, EV, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Lordstown , Ohio, EVs, Taiwan, United States, Indonesia, India, China, Beijing, Washington, China's Zhengzhou

☆ India poised to deny funding for Vedanta-Foxconn chip venture - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A man walks past the logo of Vedanta outside its headquarters in Mumbai, India January 31, 2018. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui//File Photo/File PhotoMay 31 (Reuters) - The Indian government is poised to deny crucial funding for Anil Agarwal's chip venture, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, a setback to the billionaire's ambition to build India's 'own Silicon Valley.' The venture's application seeking billions in government assistance hasn't met the criteria set by the government, the report said. Foxconn declined to comment on the report, while India's technology ministry and Vedanta did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. "India's own Silicon Valley is a step closer now," Agarwal had said last year after the announcement.

Persons: Danish Siddiqui, Anil Agarwal's, Taiwan's Foxconn, hasn't, Foxconn, Foxconn –, –, Agarwal, Anusha, Shailesh Organizations: Vedanta, REUTERS, Danish, Bloomberg, Hai Precision Industry Co, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, Gujarat, Bengaluru

Foxconn's turnaround efforts initially paid off: by 2018, Sharp was back in the black. Moreover, analysts estimate assembling iPhones and other Apple (AAPL.O) gadgets still brings in more than half of Foxconn’s annual sales. The troubled unit was once a joint venture between Sharp, Foxconn and an entity tied to Gou. The company attributed the slump to a non-operating loss of T$19.7 billion related to its 34% stake in Japanese electronics maker Sharp. Sharp reported a 220-billion-yen ($1.6 billion) impairment loss in the quarter, mostly from buildings, machinery and goodwill relating to display businesses.

Foxconn struck a deal in November to take a near-20% stake in the money-losing U.S. firm for up to $170 million. It has since invested $52.7 million and is balking at purchasing additional shares, citing a breach of their agreement, Lordstown said. "There is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern," Lordstown said in a filing, referring to its dispute with Foxconn over the investment deal. Their course of conduct has resulted in material — and what is becoming irreparable — harm to the company," Lordstown said in a statement. Lordstown shares, which at one point tumbled more than 50% on Monday, closed down 23%, or 12 cents, at 40 cents, in heavy trading.

☆ Foxconn plans $800 mln investment in southern Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TAIPEI, April 9 (Reuters) - Foxconn (2317.TW) is planning to invest T$25 billion ($820 million) in the next three years in new manufacturing facilities in southern Taiwan to support its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, the company said on Sunday. The company, formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, said the investments in Kaohsiung will include plants for making electric buses and batteries for EVs. Foxconn, a major Apple Inc (AAPL.O) supplier and iPhone assembler, has big ambitions in the EV market as it seeks to diversify its revenue base. ($1 = 30.3930 Taiwan dollars)Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Emily Chan; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Foxconn Q1 sales edge up, but Q2 outlook poor
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The rise in sales for the first three months of the year, to T$1.46 trillion, was a fresh record high for the same period, and in line with previous guidance, Foxconn (2317.TW), formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, said. For smart consumer electronics products, which includes smartphones, revenue in March declined due to new product launches in the same period last year. More than half of Foxconn's revenue comes from consumer electronics. Foxconn shares have risen 4.1% so far this year, lagging the broader Taiwan market (.TWII) which is up 12.2%. (This story has been corrected to change figure to T$1.46 trillion from T$1.42 billion in paragraph 3)Reporting by Ben Blanchard, Editing by Louise Heavens and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ India has big manufacturing plans. Goldman names 2 global stocks to benefit — giving one 60% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The investment bank called the plan, known by its Production-Linked Incentive Schemes, as a "substantial opportunity" for Greater China tech firms. The initiative incentivizes foreign companies to start manufacturing in India and encourages local firms to expand their production and exports there. Goldman said tech represents more than half of the opportunity. Under the IT hardware initiative, for instance, Greater China tech firms represent 76% of potential capital expenditure contribution. Stock picks Goldman named two buy-rated stocks that it said stand to benefit from India's big manufacturing plans.

☆ Exclusive: Apple supplier Foxconn wins AirPod order, plans $200 mln factory in India - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

One source said Foxconn will invest more than $200 million in the new India AirPod plant in the southern Indian state of Telangana. The decision to set up production in India was requested by Apple, according to the source. Apple and its key suppliers have been shifting production away from China, where strict COVID-19 curbs disrupted Foxconn's biggest iPhone factory last year. Foxconn said on Wednesday it would ramp up investment outside China to meet customer demand and lower its reliance on China for production. It was not immediately clear whether Foxconn's production plan would have impact on current AirPod suppliers, including Luxshare Precision Industry (002475.SZ).

☆ Analysis: Chinese suppliers race to Vietnam as COVID let-up opens escape route from Sino-U.S. trade war
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | Thomson Reuters | Francesco Leads A Team Of Reporters In Vietnam That Covers Top Financial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Adding impetus to the move is the increasing cost of labour in China, expanding U.S. restrictions on high-tech-related trade with China, and tit-for-tat tariffs from a Sino-U.S. trade war that triggered a past wave of Chinese investment in Vietnam. "Enquiries from Chinese firms about manufacturing investment in Vietnam grew exponentially in the last quarter of last year," said Michael Chan, senior director of leasing at industrial real estate specialist BW Industrial Development. "Chinese investment has also increased remarkably," he said. Chinese firms also experience longer times to obtain staff visas and work permits, said Filippo Bortoletti, who heads the Vietnamese unit of investment consultancy Dezan Shira. "Chinese companies move here mostly to serve their clients who moved earlier," said BW Industrial Development's Chan.

TAIPEI, March 15 (Reuters) - Apple Inc supplier Foxconn (2317.TW) on Wednesday said it plans to ramp up investment outside of China and efforts to attract automakers to its contract manufacturing business, as the company reported weaker demand for consumer electronics. Foxconn, which assembles around 70% of iPhones, has been diversifying production away from China, whose strict COVID restrictions disrupted its biggest iPhone plant last year. The company also seeks to avoid a potential hit to its business from mounting trade tensions between Beijing and Washington. "Foxconn will actively expand its EV business in North America and work more comprehensively with traditional and start-up car makers," Liu said. Liu said revenue from EV components is expected to rise sharply to between T$50 billion and T$100 billion this year from T$20 billion last year.

Now overseas demand is slumping amidst a local credit crunch and a corruption crackdown. A trade agreement and warmer relations with Washington spared its manufacturers from tariffs and sanctions applied to its northern neighbour. Now overseas demand is stuttering. Vietnam's exports of goods and services have been slowingFollow @KatrinaHamlin on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSVietnam's economy grew 8.02% in 2022, the fastest annual pace since 1997, according to data released by the country’s General Statistics Office on Dec. 29. Vietnamese exports were flat in February and fell 23.4% in January compared to a year earlier, according to Refinitiv data released on March 9.

☆ Foxconn Signals India’s Arrival as Electronics Manufacturer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Megha Mandavia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The postpandemic reshuffle of the world’s electronics supply chain is speeding up. At the center of the change: India and Apple . Apple supplier Hon Hai Precision Industry , better known as Foxconn, plans to more than double its iPhone production at an existing plant near Chennai, India, to around 20 million units by 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported last week, and roughly triple the number of workers to as many as 100,000.

☆ Foxconn Signals India’s Arrival in Electronics Manufacturing
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Megha Mandavia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

For now, by building in Ohio, Foxconn can offer customers access to U.S. federal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, Daiwa Capital Markets analyst Kylie Huang said. That's a selling point as traditional automakers juggle building gasoline-powered vehicles with plans to build their own EV capacity. "If they don't get one this year, next year will be more difficult," Huang said of Foxconn's search for an EV contract with a traditional automaker. "Sooner or later, maybe the top, traditional (automakers) say, 'Hey, I want to become a product marketing company. Foxconn wants to build around 300,000 EVs at the plant, Ian Upton, director of production control at Foxconn Ohio, told Reuters.

☆ Taiwan's Foxconn seeks chip, EV cooperation with India
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan's Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker and formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, said Liu had visited India from Feb. 27 to Saturday. "My trip this week supported Foxconn's efforts to deepen partnerships, meet old friends and make new ones, and seek cooperation in new areas such as semiconductor development and electric vehicles," Liu said in a statement. Foxconn has ambitious plans to make EVs, and is also looking to make chips. He did not mention any new concrete investment plans in the country, and Foxconn has not announced any since his trip. Currently, iPhones are assembled in India by at least three of Apple's global suppliers - Foxconn and Pegatron (4938.TW) in Tamil Nadu, and Wistron in Karnataka.

☆ Apple's Chinese contract manufacturer to develop AR device - Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Apple's (AAPL.O) Chinese contract manufacturer Luxshare Precision Industry Co Ltd (002475.SZ) will help develop the iPhone maker's long-awaited augmented reality (AR) device, Nikkei Asia reported on Thursday. Luxshare has taken over the AR development team in Shanghai, previously owned by Taiwan's Pegatron (4938.TW), the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia CheemaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Foxconn chairman to visit COVID-hit iPhone plant in China -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Sarah Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Foxconn Chairman Liu Young-way departed on Tuesday for a four-day inspection of the company's iPhone plant in Zhengzhou, China, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. Foxconn (2317.TW), formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, declined to comment. The source declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The Taiwanese company's iPhone plant was hit late last year by a COVID-19 outbreak that prompted thousands of worker departures and unrest, as well as production disruptions. In January, Foxconn said output at its Zhengzhou plant had "basically returned to normal."

☆ Taiwan fines Foxconn for unauthorised China investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Taiwan on Thursday fined Foxconn (2317.TW) T$10 million ($329,088) for making an unauthorised investment in a Chinese chip firm, but said the Taiwanese iPhone assembler had cooperated in the case and so received a lesser punishment. Taiwan, which Beijing views as sovereign Chinese territory, has kept a wary eye on China's ambition to boost its semiconductor industry and is tightening legislation to prevent what it says is China stealing its chip technology. The Tsinghua Unigroup did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ministry said Foxconn has committed to continue to invest in Taiwan this year and next and the ministry's Investment Commission will "require the company to implement its commitments". Taiwan prohibits companies from building their most advanced foundries in China to ensure they do not site their best technology offshore.

☆ Apple supplier Foxconn replaces iPhone business chief- Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn (2317.TW) has appointed Michael Chiang as the new boss for its iPhone assembly business after a tumultuous year in China, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Chiang replaces longtime leader Wang Charng-yang as head of the iPhone assembly division, the Bloomberg report said. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chiang's appointment is part of Foxconn Chairman Young Liu's efforts to elevate younger executives to maintain the company's supply chain leadership in the face of growing competition from Chinese contenders, the Bloomberg report said. Reporting by Lavanya Ahire in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Nivedita BhattacharjeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Exclusive: Apple supplier BOE plans new factories in Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HANOI, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Chinese display maker BOE Technology Group Co Ltd (000725.SZ), a supplier of both Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS), plans to invest a substantial sum to build two factories in Vietnam, two people familiar with the matter said. BOE plans to make the more sophisticated organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) screens at the site rather than liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), the person said. Apple, which included BOE in its 2021 list of manufacturing partners, uses OLED screens for its latest iPhone smartphones. The U.S. tech giant, however, plans to start making mobile screens in-house by next year, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. BOE's Vietnam plan is not specifically aimed at supplying Apple, the person said.

☆ Luxshare says client cooperation normal after Apple production cut report
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - China's Luxshare Precision Industry Co Ltd (002475.SZ) said on Thursday its cooperation with current clients was normal, in response to a media report that iPhone maker Apple Inc (AAPL.O) had asked suppliers to cut production. The electronics manufacturer said it wanted to clarify a recent report from a Taiwanese media outlet which said that Luxshare had suffered the biggest impact from the Apple request. "There are no special changes or impact to the relevant business of the company mentioned in the report," Luxshare said in its statement. A separate report by the Financial Times on Thursday said Apple is set to sign an order with Luxshare to produce premium iPhone models. Apple and Luxshare did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ Apple supplier Luxshare rises after reportedly winning contract to produce luxury iPhones
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

The Apple iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone Pro Max on sale at the company's Fifth Avenue store in New York, US, on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. Photographer: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesShares of Luxshare Precision Industry , one of Apple's Chinese contract manufacturers, rose more than 3% in Asia's trade after the Financial Times reported the supplier is set to sign a contract to produce premium iPhones. The move comes after rival Foxconn halted production lines in Zhengzhou following protests over China's stringent Covid measures over a month ago. The Financial Times reported Luxshare has already produced "small amounts" of the iPhone 14 Pro Max since November to make up for Foxconn's lost production. Apple and Luxshare did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

☆ Apple to sign Luxshare for iPhone production in China - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Luxshare, which was founded in 2004, became an Apple supplier in 2011 and has steadily moved up the hardware giant's value chain, from making connector cables for the iPhone and Macbook to manufacturing Airpods. Analysts expected Apple to diversify its supplier base amid production disruptions in China due to employee unrest at a factory operated by Foxconn and COVID-19 induced lockdowns. Apple in November warned of lower shipments of its premium iPhone 14 models following significant production cuts. Industry research firm TrendForce said on Saturday that Apple decided to employ Luxshare as one of the assemblers for the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max. TrendForce added that Luxshare's only iPhone assembly plant is located in China and it doesn't plan on setting up an iPhone production line at its Vietnam plant where it assembles Apple accessories.

Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, is gearing up to supply cars, and the chips and batteries that go into them, to global marques. It sees automakers entrusting the company with production in Indonesia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the United States and beyond. Getting there requires Foxconn ditching a tried and tested business model. To make smartphones, the company relies on a few factories it owns in China and it has little say over the underlying supply chains and which components to use. Foxconn has also tied up with Ohio-based Lordstown Motors (RIDE.O) in the United States; its factory is already making electric pickup trucks and could start supplying to other American brands within a year.

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