Global semiconductor sales more than doubled year-on-year in AprilA China Airlines Cargo plane taxis at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Photo: ReutersThe global race to build artificial intelligence is redrawing Asia's air cargo map, prompting airlines to redesign networks around growing ​semiconductor manufacturing hubs as cross-border e-commerce loses momentum. Japan exports semiconductor manufacturing equipment, South ​Korea produces advanced memory chips and Taiwan is the centre of leading-edge chip production. Unlike much e-commerce cargo, AI hardware is compact, extremely valuable and often time-critical to keep data centre projects on schedule, making air transport worth the premium. Dimerco Express Group said AI and ​semiconductor shipments had filled Taiwan's Taipei air cargo hub to capacity in July, keeping freight space tight on routes to the US and within Asia.