Semiconductors and AI servers drive 80% of Taiwan's exports

SEMICON Taiwan 2026 reached a record scale with 1,300 companies from 65 countries participating, highlighting Taiwan's role as a semiconductor hub while semiconductors and AI servers drove 80% of the nation's total exports during the first half of this year.

With Taiwan's economic growth rate reaching 14% in the first half of this year, semiconductors and AI servers have proven to be the core engines of the economy, driving 80% of total exports. Amidst this trend, SEMICON Taiwan 2026 was held at its largest scale ever, allowing for the observation of technological trends in the global semiconductor industry.

Reported by KOTRA TV, this exhibition expanded its scale with approximately 1,300 companies participating from 65 countries. Compared to last year, the number of participating companies increased by 100 and the number of participating countries grew by 9, demonstrating Taiwan's status as a hub for the global semiconductor supply chain. KOTRA Taipei jointly operated an integrated Korea Pavilion with the Korea Industry Promotion Association, while Gyeonggi-do and Icheon also participated to showcase the technological capabilities of domestic semiconductor-related companies.

From Materials to Automation Equipment: Confirming the Technological Scalability of Korean Companies

The exhibition floor introduced various technologies spanning front-end and back-end processes, as well as AI and Physical AI. In particular, a shift was observed where demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and packaging technologies is rising as AI technology moves from the training stage to the inference stage.

Companies participating in the Korea Pavilion were expanding their technological reach beyond their traditional core fields into the broader semiconductor industry. An official from Nextgen, which specializes in glass edge processing for displays, shared the atmosphere on-site, stating, "We confirmed that existing semiconductor industry professionals are asking many questions about other materials as well," adding, "This will serve as an important indicator for setting the direction of future technology development."

A company manufacturing mobile-specialized casters for semiconductor industry Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) stated that they are receiving an explosion of inquiries as they enter their third year of expanding into Taiwan. Expectations for increased exports rose as Taiwanese representatives inspected the products on-site and expressed intentions to adopt them.

Taiwanese Government Emphasizes Global Cooperation, Serving as a Channel of Trust for Korean Companies

The Taiwanese government also made its intention clear to expand Taiwan's role within the global supply chain. The Premier of Taiwan emphasized global cooperation across all sectors—from advanced manufacturing to packaging, memory, equipment, and materials—stressing that strengths should be maximized through multilateral cooperation.

Amid this trend of global cooperation, Korean companies are securing market trust through the platform of the 'Korea Pavilion.' An official from Myeongseong Instrument, a manufacturer of pressure and temperature sensors, said, "Opportunities to meet semiconductor professionals directly are rare, so introducing our products through media such as SEMICON Taiwan and the Korea Pavilion has been a precious opportunity to increase corporate recognition and gain trust."

The exhibition concluded as a venue to confirm the current state of the Taiwanese semiconductor industry, covering both front-end and back-end processes, while simultaneously seeking opportunities in the next-generation semiconductor market through global cooperation.

Source: KOTRA TV (YouTube)