Group 1 - The article highlights a rapid rebound in shipping volumes between China and the US in early June, attributed to the easing of tariffs on May 12, leading to a more than 25% increase in container ship departures compared to the last week of May, with an average of 59.1 departures [3] - South Korea's exports showed a significant recovery in early June, with a year-on-year growth of 5.4%, a notable improvement from the -23.8% recorded in May, driven by a low base last year and better performance in major regions [5][6] - The real estate market remains weak, with a year-on-year decline of 5.9% in the transaction area of commercial housing in 30 major cities during the first half of June, indicating limited recovery [9] Group 2 - The automotive market experienced a year-on-year increase in sales, with retail sales of passenger cars reaching 343,000 units in early June, a 19% increase compared to the same period last year, while wholesale figures also showed a 10% increase [12][13] - New energy vehicles performed exceptionally well, with retail sales reaching 202,000 units in early June, marking a 40% year-on-year growth and a market penetration rate of 58.8% [13]

Core Viewpoint - The article analyzes the recent financial performance of major global chip distributors, specifically WPG Holdings and Axiomtek, highlighting their revenue trends and market dynamics in the semiconductor industry [2][3]. Group 1: WPG Holdings Financial Performance - WPG Holdings reported a revenue of NT$783 billion in May, a year-on-year decrease of 2.35% and a month-on-month decrease of 33.67% [8][10]. - Cumulatively, WPG's revenue for the first five months of the year reached NT$443.8 billion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 23.16% [8][10]. - The company attributes the revenue decline in May partly to the appreciation of the New Taiwan Dollar and notes that inventory adjustments among downstream semiconductor clients are largely complete [11]. Group 2: Axiomtek Financial Performance - Axiomtek achieved a record revenue of NT$754.6 billion in May, marking a year-on-year increase of 12.1% and a month-on-month decrease of 17.78% [4][5]. - The cumulative revenue for Axiomtek in 2025 reached NT$4,160.8 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 31.1% [5]. - The growth in Axiomtek's revenue is attributed to the rapid development of generative AI, which has increased demand for traditional and AI server components [7]. Group 3: Market Trends and Future Outlook - Both companies experienced significant revenue growth in the first quarter of 2025, driven by strong demand in the AI and electronics sectors [12][16]. - Axiomtek's first-quarter revenue reached NT$2,488.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 36.8%, while WPG's first-quarter revenue was NT$2,474 billion, up 28% year-on-year [12][16]. - The outlook for the second quarter remains cautiously optimistic, with expectations of gradual recovery in end-user demand as inventory adjustments in North America and Europe conclude [19].