Rising semiconductor foundry and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) costs since 2025, along with continued increases in precious metal prices, are placing growing cost pressure on display driver IC (DDIC) suppliers, according to the latest research from TrendForce. In response, some vendors have recently begun discussions with panel makers to evaluate the possibility of adjusting DDIC pricing.
TrendForce’s latest findings show that global OLED monitor shipments hit 2.735 million units in 2025, a 92% YoY increase. This impressive growth was mainly fueled by aggressive promotional efforts by brands in the fourth quarter. Furthermore, 27-inch 240 Hz QHD models gained considerable popularity due to their excellent price-to-performance ratio, significantly increasing shipments. The launch of new 280 Hz models further energized the market.
Although global smartphone brands will encounter higher NAND Flash prices in 2026, the average storage capacity for smartphones is projected to grow by 4.8% YoY, according to TrendForce’s recent findings on the memory sector. This growth is fueled by the discontinuation of low-capacity models as NAND producers upgrade their processes, along with increased AI-related demand in flagship smartphones from leading brands.
TrendForce’s latest research on the foundry industry reveals that continued investment in the AI arms race by North American CSPs and AI startups will keep demand for AI processors and supporting ICs strong in 2026. Global foundry revenue is projected to grow 24.8% YoY to approximately US$218.8 billion, with TSMC expected to post the largest increase of around 32% YoY.
According to TrendForce’s latest findings on the AI servers, major CSPs are increasing investment in self-developed chips. In response, NVIDIA shifted the focus of GTC 2026 toward deploying AI inference applications across multiple industries, marking a departure from its previous emphasis on cloud-based AI training.
