manufacturing

Atlas 2026 production fully committed as LG Energy locks in robot battery deals

Boston Dynamics has disclosed that its new electric Atlas humanoid robot features "almost an order of magnitude reduction in complexity" compared to its predecessor, a design philosophy aimed squarely at mass manufacturing and lower costs. Simultaneously, LG Energy Solution has…

New factory data shows Hormuz disruption fueling global supply crunch

The Strait of Hormuz has formally reopened to commercial shipping following the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June, but supply chain experts and new manufacturing data released this week reveal that the economic damage from four months of disruption…

China’s manufacturing posts strongest quarter since 2020

China's manufacturing sector closed out its strongest quarter in nearly six years, with a private business survey released on Wednesday showing factory activity expanded for a seventh consecutive month in June even as the pace of growth eased slightly.

Goldman says EU losing market share to China is bigger growth drag than trade gap

The European Union's economic relationship with China is under growing strain, with Goldman Sachs The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. warning on Thursday that the bloc's real problem is not the trade deficit itself but the rapid loss of global market…

June PMI data shows AI demand powering Asian factories amid global divide

Manufacturing surveys released on Tuesday painted a split picture of global industry at mid-year, with Asian factories riding a wave of artificial-intelligence hardware demand while parts of Europe and emerging markets struggled with rising energy costs tied to the Iran…

China lifts fuel export curbs amid ample domestic supply

China is easing restrictions on refined fuel exports that were imposed after conflict in the Middle East disrupted crude oil flows earlier this year, allowing state-owned refiners to ship larger volumes of gasoline and diesel to a wider range of…

China’s factory activity beats forecasts in June amid AI export boom

China's manufacturing activity expanded faster than expected in June, with the official purchasing managers' index climbing to 50.3 from 50.0 in May, returning to expansion territory above the 50-point threshold and beating the Reuters poll forecast of 50.1, according to…

China’s economy picks up in June on rebounding exports

China's economy showed signs of recovery in June after two months of weakness, with factory activity accelerating and US-bound export orders posting sharp year-on-year gains, according to the China Beige Book's survey of 1,321 businesses conducted from June 1 to…

China’s Agibot livestreams humanoid robots on active factory line

Chinese robotics company Agibot launched a six-day global livestream on Tuesday showcasing its G2 humanoid robots autonomously performing quality inspection and sorting tasks on a live tablet assembly line at Longcheer Technology's factory in Nanchang, China. The broadcast, running June…

TSMC cuts 28nm output at key fab by over 25% as it pivots to AI chips

TSMC Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has slashed monthly wafer starts at its Fab 15A facility in Central Taiwan Science Park from roughly 200,000 to 150,000 units since early 2026, a reduction exceeding 25%, as the chipmaker accelerates a strategic…

Toyota, Nissan warn Japanese buyers of US-built car defects

Toyota and Nissan are warning Japanese customers that vehicles built in American factories and exported to Japan may not meet the cosmetic standards typically expected in the domestic market. The disclaimers, published on the automakers' Japanese retail pages, flag potential…