ASIA PACIFIC — Share prices for several major chipmakers in the Asia Pacific region rose in the first half of 2026. SK Hynix saw its share price rise 310%, while Samsung's share price increased by 183% during this period. Other companies also experienced growth, with Sandisk shares rising 780% and Western Digital shares increasing by 240% in 2026. Micron shares climbed 296% and Seagate shares rose 226% in 2026.

This surge in stock values occurred as demand for memory chips outpaced available supply, a situation described by Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell. Coatsworth stated, "Demand exceeding constrained supply led to a surge in memory chip prices and took suppliers’ shares on a spectacular ride upwards." Over the 12 months leading up to June 2026, Sandisk shares had risen by 4,510%. Apple, a major consumer of memory chips, increased prices for its iPads and MacBooks, attributing the changes to rising memory chip costs.

Broader market indices in Asia also reflected this trend. South Korea’s Kospi index rose 125% in the first half of 2026, and Japan’s Nikkei index increased by 38% during the same period. In contrast, the US S&P 500 index rose 7.4% in the first half of 2026, reaching 7,354 points.

Apple reportedly sought clearance from the Trump administration to purchase memory chips from CXMT. The Pentagon has blacklisted CXMT. Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said, "Having piled in to AI and tech since the end of March, there is a desire to protect profits, and investors continue to be in a mood to sell first and ask questions later."

Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, projected continued strength in several economic factors. "Our base case sees continued strength in AI capital expenditure, a resilient US economy, ongoing fiscal spending around the world, and strong credit creation continuing to support corporate earnings growth and markets more broadly," Haefele said.

Why It Matters

The increases in share prices for semiconductor manufacturers, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, indicate high demand for memory chips. This demand has also influenced consumer product pricing, as shown by Apple's decision to increase prices for some of its devices due to rising chip costs. The situation reflects broader trends of increased investment in artificial intelligence and technology sectors.