According to Oxford Economics, Asia’s chip exports jumped nearly 81% YoY in March, while shipment volumes rose only 28% – a historic divergence. Normally, such a gap signals peaking prices, but researchers say this cycle is different.

The core driver: advanced chips command strong pricing power thanks to booming AI demand. Even with Middle East tensions, energy pressures, and tariff uncertainties, major chip hubs like Taiwan and Korea continue posting strong export growth.

Oxford Economics estimates AI-related demand will add 15 percentage points to Asia’s total export growth this year. Across five major economies (Taiwan, Korea, China, Japan, Singapore), semiconductor exports soared 80% YoY in Q1 , while non-tech products grew just 4.6%.

ICgoodFind: AI compute demand has replaced traditional trade as Asia’s export engine, giving advanced chips premium pricing and regional resilience.