JM-Applied sees gas equipment demand surge on AI expansion, order book exceeds NT$3 billion

The AI boom is fundamentally reshaping the semiconductor gas supply chain, with JM-Applied's surge in orders reflecting global wafer fabrication plants' urgent need for high-purity gas equipment to support AI chip production expansion. Upstream, this is driving up prices for key materials like helium and argon, while midstream equipment vendors face capacity constraints and downstream clients experience delivery delays. From a compliance standpoint, the geopolitical uncertainty in Taiwan, China, especially amid tightening U.S. and EU export controls on advanced technologies, forces companies to reassess sourcing strategies and local alternatives. Competitors such as SK Hynix and Applied Materials may accelerate investments in AI-specific gas systems to gain market share. Over the next 12 to 24 months, as demand for AI training and inference chips continues to rise, the gas equipment market will enter a high-growth phase, with Taiwanese vendors likely assuming a more central role in the global supply chain.