Samsung Electronics could overtake SK Hynix as the world's largest supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) in 2027, as HBM4 prices climb and memory manufacturers compete for limited DRAM production capacity, according to forecasts presented at an October 6 semiconductor industry forum in Seoul.

Taiwan's exports hit a single-month record high of US$87.22 billion in September 2026, lifting the year-to-date total for the first nine months of the year to US$661.55 billion, according to customs import and export statistics released by Taiwan's Ministry of Finance (MOF) on October 8. Exports to the US totaled US$207.78 billion in the first nine months, a level the ministry called "unprecedented."

Taiwan's geothermal energy market could be approaching a major breakthrough as the semiconductor industry seeks new sources of reliable renewable electricity amid surging AI-driven power demand.

The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is driving demand for higher power and voltage levels, pushing power semiconductor development toward greater efficiency, higher power density, and tighter integration.

Touch IC leader Elan Microelectronics recently announced its September 2026 consolidated revenue of NT$602 million (approx. US$18.9 million), down 18.74% month-over-month and 46.9% year-over-year. Third-quarter revenue slid 30.7% quarter-over-quarter to NT$2.221 billion (US$69.6 million), down 33.0% year-over-year, marking a sharp decline during what is traditionally a peak season.

Backed by US$15 billion in Japanese government funding, Rapidus announced an alliance with 17 semiconductor design-related companies, including US-based Synopsys and India's Infosys, on October 5. The partnership aims to expand its potential customer base by helping companies develop custom chips.

SK Hynix's proposed KRW400 trillion (approx. US$299 billion) semiconductor expansion in southwestern South Korea faces a major obstacle as the company races to increase memory production capacity: the planned manufacturing site includes military facilities used by US forces, complicating construction timelines as competition intensifies with Micron Technology and Chinese chipmakers.

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have accepted a 10% increase in ASML's replacement-part prices for lithography systems in South Korea, with the higher rates taking effect for deliveries starting in January 2027, The Elec reported on October 11, citing industry sources.

The Financial Times recently reported that Nvidia is in early-stage talks to acquire or significantly deepen its investment in the US$25 billion open-weight AI startup Reflection AI. To dodge lengthy antitrust regulatory reviews, Nvidia is considering an "acqui-hire" framework to bring on key staff and license technology while expanding its strategic position in open-weight models.

Advanced semiconductor manufacturing is progressing toward 2nm and angstrom-era nodes (Å; where 1 nm equals 10 Å), bringing high-numerical-aperture extreme ultraviolet (High-NA EUV) lithography into focus.