Rising global economic uncertainty has fueled safe-haven demand alongside strong industrial consumption, pushing precious metal prices higher. In response, Taiwan’s leading quartz component maker TXC announced a 5–10% price increase effective April 1, 2026. Tai-Saw Technology followed suit by raising prices on filters and other frequency parts, while other Taiwanese suppliers have begun negotiating with customers to reflect rising raw material costs, such as gold.

South Korea’s exports climbed to a record US$86.1 billion in March 2026, marking the first time monthly shipments have exceeded the US$80 billion threshold, even as the Middle East conflict disrupted logistics and energy flows. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the figure was up 48.3% year on year, extending a 10-month run of record monthly exports and lifting the country’s trade surplus to US$25.7 billion — its 14th straight month in the black.

Samsung Electronics has reportedly moved into the equipment installation and testing phase at its foundry in Taylor, Texas, transitioning from construction to operational setup for 2nm production. More than 3,000 engineers from Samsung and global equipment suppliers have begun gathering at the site, according to ET News, signaling the start of large-scale ramp-up activities.