Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, released findings from a new report developed in collaboration with Frost & Sullivan examining the evolving semiconductor ecosystem across Asia Pacific (APAC). The report finds that growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing, electric vehicles (EVs), and advanced communications technologies is accelerating semiconductor production and driving investment in the digital infrastructure that powers the AI economy. These trends are creating increasingly complex regional and global supply chains that depend on speed, visibility, and resilience.
The report, From AI to EVs: How APAC Semiconductors Drive the Global Innovation Map, highlights how APAC has become the center of the global semiconductor ecosystem, accounting for approximately 58% of global semiconductor industry revenue[1]. As industries increasingly rely on advanced chips to power AI applications, data centers, connected devices, and next-generation vehicles, the ability to move semiconductors and related technologies efficiently across multiple markets has become critical.
For Vietnam, these shifts are creating new opportunities as the country becomes increasingly integrated into the regional semiconductor ecosystem. According to the report, Vietnam’s semiconductor exports grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.8% between 2006 and 2025, while semiconductor imports grew by 30% over the same period. Vietnam exported US$32.4 billion in integrated circuits in 2023, underscoring its growing participation in regional and global semiconductor trade.
“Vietnam is becoming an increasingly important part of APAC’s semiconductor ecosystem, as more semiconductor and high-tech companies expand their presence in the country,” added Ee-Hui Tan, Managing Director of FedEx Vietnam and Cambodia. “As this growth accelerates, reliable and efficient connectivity to key markets will become increasingly important. FedEx is committed to supporting Vietnam’s growing demand with the international connectivity and logistics capabilities needed to strengthen supply chains and contribute to the country’s economic growth.”
AI Infrastructure a Major Driver of Semiconductor Demand
The report identifies AI and high-performance computing as one of the fastest-growing drivers of semiconductor demand. More than 2,000 new data centers are expected to be built globally between 2026 and 2035.
Beyond semiconductors, AI is accelerating demand for an entire ecosystem of supporting infrastructure including high-density servers, networking equipment, cooling systems and power solutions. These critical technologies often move through multiple manufacturing, assembly and testing hubs before being deployed in AI data centers worldwide, creating increasingly interconnected supply chains. As a result, businesses are placing greater emphasis on logistics providers that can deliver speed, visibility and seamless cross-border connectivity for high-value, time-sensitive shipments.
At the same time, EVs, which require significantly more chips than traditional vehicles, together with 5G, IoT, consumer electronics, medical devices and industrial automation are further expanding semiconductor demand across industries.
APAC Powers the Global Semiconductor Ecosystem
The report highlights APAC’s central role in semiconductor innovation and production. Rather than being concentrated in a single market, semiconductor manufacturing is distributed across highly specialized hubs throughout the region. Key regional strengths include:
- China as a major material supplier, consumer market and growing fabrication hub
- Taiwan, which leads global advanced semiconductor manufacturing and accounts for roughly 60% of worldwide foundry output.
- South Korea, a global leader in memory chip production and advanced fabrication capabilities.
- Japan, which plays a critical role in semiconductor equipment, materials and specialty manufacturing inputs.
- Vietnam, alongside other Southeast Asian countries, is emerging as a hub for semiconductor assembly and testing. Its strong electronics manufacturing base is driving demand for chips and related technologies, while its skilled workforce and cost advantages are attracting investment from major global firms.
This specialization creates a deeply interconnected ecosystem, with semiconductor design, fabrication, packaging, testing and deployment often occurring across multiple countries before a final product reaches market. Alongside hyperscalers, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) also play an important role, benefiting from growing opportunities in high-value niche segments.
Industry sentiment reflects this regionalization trend. In the FedEx SEMICON Taiwan survey, 35% of respondents said they expect their companies to expand manufacturing into additional APAC markets over the next three years. A further 25% plan to increase or diversify sourcing either within APAC or globally. This highlights a growing focus on supply chain diversification to support growth.
Logistics Enabling the Next Chapter of Semiconductor Growth
As semiconductor supply chains become more complex and globally interconnected, survey findings suggest that speed and visibility are central to logistics strategies amid a volatile business environment. 30% of respondents cited geopolitical disruption as the most significant challenge to growth ahead of rising operating costs and cross-border trade and customs complexity, and 44% identified faster international shipping as the most important capability when selecting logistics and supply chain partners.
For businesses in Vietnam, connectivity to major semiconductor and technology hubs across Asia is becoming increasingly important as the country’s role in regional supply chains grows. In September 2025, FedEx further enhanced its service in Northern Vietnam with an additional outbound flight from Noi Bai international airport. The enhanced service enables shipments from Northern Vietnam to reach Asia and Europe one day faster, while providing enhanced service reliability for exports to Trans-Pacific destinations including the US and Canada.
The network enhancement complements FedEx’s broader efforts to strengthen connectivity across APAC. FedEx introduced daily direct flights between Taiwan and South Korea, extending cutoff times by more than three hours and providing greater flexibility for high-tech customers. FedEx has also expanded its Taoyuan Transshipment Center in Taiwan, enhancing processing efficiency and capacity to support growing volumes of semiconductor and advanced technology shipments moving across the region.
The report provides businesses with insights into the evolving AI and semiconductor ecosystem across Asia Pacific, helping them better understand emerging supply chain trends, growth opportunities and the logistics capabilities needed to support the next wave of innovation. The full report can be downloaded here.
[1] From AI to EVs: How APAC Semiconductors Drive the Global Innovation Map