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Apr 21, 14:29
ASML's memory revenue tops logic in 1Q26, AI-fueled HBM demand surges
ASML revealed during its first quarter 2026 earnings call that revenue from memory systems has, for the first time, exceeded that of logic chips. Against a backdrop of sustained AI infrastructure investment, DRAM manufacturers are aggressively competing for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) equipment capacity, signaling a shift in global semiconductor demand patterns.
Niche memory design firm AP Memory announced a 112% year-over-year increase in its self-reported March 2026 revenue to NT$814 million (approx. US$25.9 million). Pre-tax net income rose 53% to NT$457 million, while net profit attributable to the parent company grew 62% to NT$372 million. Earnings per share (EPS) reached NT$2.29. The company is optimistic about sustained growth momentum throughout 2026, with overall operational visibility better than in previous years.
Chinese authorities announced 10 new policies related to Taiwan following the meeting between China's president Xi Jinping and the chairperson of the Kuomintang political party in Taiwan, Cheng Li-Wun.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is stepping in to steady the memory supply chain after a sharp rise in DRAM and mobile memory prices began feeding into smartphones and other consumer electronics.

The global electronic system design industry closed 2025 on a strong footing, with revenue reaching US$5.47 billion in the fourth quarter—up 10.3% year-over-year—according to the latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report from SEMI's Electronic System Design Alliance. The report also showed a 10.1% rise in the four-quarter moving average, underscoring sustained momentum across the sector.

Taiwan's artificial intelligence (AI) servers and advanced-process chip manufacturing businesses are booming, with related manufacturing industries also benefiting. According to a survey by Taiwan's Ministry of Labor (MIL), labor turnover rates in the manufacturing industry are relatively low, while vacancy rates and recruitment periods are comparable to the overall industry average, indicating a stable workforce structure.
Samsung is accelerating its push into magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM), positioning the technology as a strategic pillar alongside DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in the intensifying global AI semiconductor race.
"Silicon inflation" is no longer a metaphor — it is reshaping Taiwan's capital markets. TSMC and Nvidia are at the center, pulling growth across the entire electronics supply chain. Global uncertainties remain, yet Taiwan's market is outperforming.

Google is accelerating its push into the AI chip market, positioning its custom tensor processing units (TPUs) as a viable alternative to Nvidia's dominant GPUs—particularly as the industry shifts from training large models to running them in real-world applications.

On April 20, 2026, Apple announced that Johny Srouji — the executive behind its custom silicon revolution — has been elevated to the newly created role of Chief Hardware Officer. Srouji, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, will now also oversee the Hardware Engineering division formerly led by John Ternus, who is set to succeed Tim Cook as Apple's CEO on September 1, 2026.
Given the US-China trade war, many Taiwanese businesses and Chinese manufacturers relocated production lines to Southeast Asia, boosting shipment demand from the region. Now, escalating conflict in the Middle East has driven up fuel costs, while international cargo flights are being diverted or crowded into Southeast Asian routes. This phenomenon is causing air freight rates to double.
Optical communications company APAC Opto Electronics reported that its inventory digestion phase is nearing completion, with market demand showing a clear rebound. Looking ahead to its co-packaged optics (CPO) strategy, the company noted that its external laser small form-factor pluggable (ELSFP) is becoming increasingly critical within the overall architecture. Small-volume shipments have begun in 2026, with volume ramp-up expected in 2027, positioning the product as a key future growth driver.