Deep Analysis of Global Semiconductor Market in September 2026: AI Demand Continues to Surge, Vietnam's Semiconductor Supply Chain Enters a Golden Development Period
In September 2026, the global semiconductor market continues to present a complex yet vibrant landscape driven by the dual engines of AI and automotive electronics. As artificial intelligence applications deepen and the automotive intelligentization process accelerates, the semiconductor industry is undergoing unprecedented transformation and opportunities. This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of key features of the current semiconductor market, explore changes in market supply and demand, price trends, and industry dynamics, with special focus on the strategic positioning and development opportunities of Vietnam's semiconductor supply chain in this round of industrial transformation.
I. Overall Global Semiconductor Market Situation: AI Demand Dominates, Structural Differentiation Evident
Entering the third quarter of 2026, the global semiconductor market continued the growth momentum of the first half of the year, but internal structural differentiation became increasingly prominent. According to the latest industry data, the global semiconductor market grew by 12.3% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, with AI chips and automotive electronics becoming the main drivers of growth. This trend was further strengthened in September, as demand for AI-related chips continued to surge, while demand for traditional consumer electronics chips remained relatively weak.
In the AI chip field, NVIDIA's newly released Blackwell B200 chip has sparked a new round of technological competition, and its powerful performance and energy efficiency ratio have further stimulated market demand for high-performance computing chips. Meanwhile, HBM4 memory, as a key supporting product for AI chips, saw a significant price increase in September, reflecting the overall prosperity of the AI industry chain. This change in demand structure is reshaping the global semiconductor market landscape, and enterprises with AI chip design capabilities and advanced packaging technologies have gained greater market space.
In the automotive electronics field, with the popularization of intelligent driving and electric vehicles, demand for automotive-grade chips continues to grow. Especially for silicon carbide power semiconductors, their prices surged in September, and the accelerated popularization of 8-inch production lines reflects the industry's urgent demand for high-efficiency power devices. This trend provides new development opportunities for Vietnam's semiconductor supply chain, particularly in the field of power semiconductor packaging and testing.
II. Memory Chip Market: DRAM and NAND Show Divergent Trends, 2027 Supply-Demand Becomes the Focus
The memory chip market showed a clear divergent trend in September. The DRAM spot market's upward momentum slowed down, and although contract prices hit new highs, the increase narrowed. In contrast, NAND flash memory struggled to rebound, with a strong market观望 sentiment. This differentiation reflects changes in demand from different application areas and adjustments in the supply chain.
In the DRAM market, although demand for AI servers remains strong, weak demand from consumer electronics and some enterprise storage has led to a balanced market supply-demand relationship. Major manufacturers such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are adjusting their capacity plans to cope with market changes in 2027. Notably, while DRAM contract prices hit new highs in September, the spot market's upward momentum significantly slowed, indicating that the market is shifting from shortage to relative balance.
The NAND flash market faces greater challenges. As smartphone shipments decline and SSD price competition intensifies, the NAND market's supply-demand relationship has become loose. Major manufacturers are adjusting their capacity, and some have even postponed the launch of new production lines. This adjustment makes the 2027 NAND market supply-demand the focus of market attention, also providing a window of opportunity for Vietnam's memory chip industry to enter the market.
The divergent trend in the memory chip market reminds investors that the semiconductor industry has entered a period of structural adjustment, and the simple logic of price increases is being replaced by changes in demand structure. Vietnamese semiconductor enterprises need to choose appropriate market entry points based on their own advantages and avoid blindly following the trend.
III. Wafer Foundry Market: Mature Process Capacity Loosens, Advanced Process Premium Continues to Expand
The wafer foundry market showed a divergent trend between mature and advanced processes in September. The utilization rate of mature process capacity decreased, and quotes saw a slight downward adjustment, while advanced processes maintained high prosperity, with the premium continuing to expand.
In terms of mature processes, due to weak demand from consumer electronics and some overcapacity, major foundries such as TSMC and Samsung began to adjust their mature process capacity plans. The utilization rate of 8-inch wafer foundry capacity declined in September, and quotes for some mature processes were reduced by 5-10%. This adjustment reflects intensified competition and changes in demand structure in the mature process market.
In terms of advanced processes, the surge in AI chip demand has led to continuous tight capacity for 3nm and below advanced processes. TSMC's 3nm capacity is fully booked until 2027, and Intel's 18A process advancement has also attracted market attention. The premium for advanced processes continues to expand, and the price gap with mature processes further widens. This differentiation trend is expected to continue until 2027.
The differentiation in the wafer foundry market provides new development opportunities for Vietnam's semiconductor industry. Vietnam has cost advantages in mature processes and can gradually enhance its position in the semiconductor industry chain by taking over mature process capacity transfers. At the same time, Vietnam can also gradually enter the advanced process field through technology cooperation to achieve industrial upgrading.
IV. Semiconductor Equipment Market: Volume and Price Rise Together, Domestic Substitution Enters Harvest Period
The semiconductor equipment market showed a good trend of rising volume and price in September, especially with outstanding performance from domestic equipment manufacturers. Domestic equipment manufacturers such as AMEC (Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc.) saw a net profit forecast increase of over 280%, indicating that the semiconductor equipment industry is entering a harvest period.
The surge in AI chip demand has driven the sales growth of key equipment such as etching equipment and thin-film deposition equipment. At the same time, with the expansion of domestic semiconductor capacity, equipment demand remains strong. Domestic equipment manufacturers are gradually replacing imported equipment through technological breakthroughs and cost advantages, accelerating the process of domestic substitution.
The prosperity of the semiconductor equipment market provides new development opportunities for Vietnam's semiconductor industry. Vietnam can reduce equipment procurement costs by introducing domestic equipment manufacturers and enhance equipment manufacturing capabilities through technology cooperation. This cooperation model helps Vietnam's semiconductor industry achieve leapfrog development and narrow the gap with advanced countries.
V. Vietnam's Semiconductor Supply Chain: Strategic Opportunity Period Has Arrived
Against the backdrop of changes in the global semiconductor market structure, Vietnam's semiconductor supply chain is facing an unprecedented strategic opportunity period. In recent years, the Vietnamese government has increased support for the semiconductor industry, attracting a large amount of domestic and foreign capital into the semiconductor field through policy guidance and investment incentives.
The establishment and expansion of Vietnam's semiconductor practical camps have trained a batch of IC design and packaging & testing talents, building a local semiconductor talent ecosystem. These talents will become the core driving force for the development of Vietnam's semiconductor industry, promoting Vietnam's transformation from a major electronic manufacturing country to a semiconductor manufacturing power.
Vietnam's local chip manufacturing has also achieved new breakthroughs, with the successful mass production of 28nm technology, marking a new stage in Vietnam's semiconductor industry. This breakthrough not only enhances Vietnam's position in the semiconductor industry chain but also provides more development opportunities for Vietnamese semiconductor enterprises.
The rise of Vietnam's semiconductor supply chain not only provides a new growth point for Vietnam's economic development but also offers new capacity supplementation and supply chain diversification options for the global semiconductor industry. Against the backdrop of the current global semiconductor supply chain restructuring, Vietnam's semiconductor industry is expected to become an important participant in the global semiconductor market.
VI. Investment Value Analysis: Technical Barriers and Long-Term Growth Build Investment Moat
As a technology-intensive industry, the investment value of the semiconductor industry is mainly reflected in technical barriers and long-term growth potential. The demand growth in emerging application areas such as AI chips and automotive electronics provides long-term growth momentum for the semiconductor industry.
In terms of technical barriers, the semiconductor industry requires continuous technological innovation and capital investment, making it difficult for new entrants to break through technical barriers in a short time. These technical barriers provide existing enterprises with stable profit space and competitive advantages, and also offer investors a safe investment environment.
In terms of long-term growth potential, as emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and 5G become more widespread, semiconductor demand will continue to grow. Especially in emerging markets like Vietnam, the growth potential of semiconductor demand is even greater. The rise of Vietnam's semiconductor industry provides new investment opportunities for investors.
However, investors also need to pay attention to the cyclical characteristics and structural changes of the semiconductor industry. In investment decisions, it is necessary to combine industry trends, enterprise competitiveness, and valuation levels to select targets with long-term growth potential. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the policy environment and supply chain changes of Vietnam's semiconductor industry to adjust investment strategies in a timely manner.
VII. Conclusion and Outlook
In September 2026, the global semiconductor market exhibited features such as the continuous surge of AI demand, price differentiation in memory chips, and adjustments in wafer foundry capacity. In this round of industrial transformation, Vietnam's semiconductor supply chain is entering a golden development period. Through policy support, talent cultivation, and industrial upgrading, Vietnam is expected to become an important participant in the global semiconductor market.
For investors, the technical barriers and long-term growth potential of the semiconductor industry provide stable investment returns. Driven by the dual engines of AI and automotive electronics, the semiconductor industry is expected to maintain a long-term growth trend. The rise of Vietnam's semiconductor industry provides new investment opportunities for investors, but it is also necessary to pay attention to the risks brought by the industry's cyclical and structural changes.
Looking to the future, as AI technology further develops and automotive intelligentization advances, semiconductor demand will continue to grow. Vietnam's semiconductor industry is expected to achieve leapfrog development and become an important force in the global semiconductor market through undertaking industrial transfers, technology cooperation, and independent innovation. In this process, investors need to closely follow industry dynamics, seize investment opportunities, and maximize value.
