Yokowo, a Japanese semiconductor firm, will invest JPY7 billion ($44 million) more in Vietnam and Malaysia, to expand production capacity in semiconductor test.

In a statement on Tuesday (November 10), Yokowo said the additional spending is on top of a plan of JPY8.1 billion announced in June 2026. Together, the two investments can reach JPY15.1 billion, set for disbursement until March 2031.

Under the latest plan, Japan will expand buildings and equipment for automation and production. Malaysia will receive new production equipment. Vietnam will add the second new building and phased equipment. The first new building in Vietnam is scheduled for completion in October 2027 and the second in February 2028.

The earlier plan is set to make Vietnam the second overseas production base after Malaysia, to spread risk and maintain business continuity.

Yokowo’s core products under the expansion are contact probes and test sockets. The new spending will expand production in Vietnam and will automate and strengthen the production and technology base in Japan.

The company said demand for semiconductor testing is rising as AI, data center, and high-performance computing chips become more advanced. This adds testing steps and makes the products under test more complex.

Yokowo elaborated that existing customers are expanding demand, while new customers and new test processes are also asking for supply, exceeding its existing plan.

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