Demand from Nvidia and Apple has intensified shortages of high-end glass fiber cloth used in IC substrates, driving broad price increases for related materials and squeezing profit margins for copper clad laminate (CCL) suppliers. Japanese materials makers have recently taken the lead in raising prices, shifting rising costs downstream to customers and end markets.
China-based CMOS image sensor (CIS) supplier SmartSens Technology has notified customers of price increases, stating that from March 1, 2026, prices for its smart security and AIoT product lines will rise by 10% or 20%, depending on the upstream wafer foundry manufacturing the products.
Yageo CEO David Wang said that although seasonal factors reduced working days from the previous quarter, capacity utilization is expected to rise by 3-5pp sequentially, supported by sustained AI demand and strong order intake. Revenue, gross margin, and operating margin in the first quarter of 2026 are all projected to increase slightly from the fourth quarter of 2025.
Advanced Power Electronics Co. (APEC) said high-power AI servers are driving demand for medium- and high-voltage power devices, and expects demand for high-voltage components to recover in 2026. Cooling fans used in AI and general-purpose servers are also recording strong growth. In 2025, fan products accounted for 27% of total revenue, and the company expects further expansion in 2026.
The latest January revenue data for Taiwan's Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) sector—disclosed this month—confirms a powerful industry-wide resurgence.
Following the February 10th disclosure deadline for Taiwan-listed companies, the January 2026 revenue reports for the semiconductor materials sector reveal a market in transition.
