Signal Global Semiconductor Market to Surge Past the Trillion-Dollar Threshold, AI Infrastructure Drives Growth

Summary

IDC projects global semiconductor revenue reaching $1.29 trillion in 2026, a 52.8% year-over-year increase from $842.8 billion in 2025, with long-term revenue forecast to reach $1.75 trillion by 2030. Memory is the standout segment: DRAM revenue is projected at $418.6 billion in 2026 (177% YoY growth) and total memory revenue at $594.7 billion, rising to $790.4 billion in 2027, while NAND flash revenue is projected at $174.1 billion (138.5% increase). Data center semiconductor revenue is projected at $477.1 billion in 2026, expected to grow to nearly half the total semiconductor market ($843.2 billion) by 2030, with hyperscaler capital expenditure expected to rise 70% year-over-year to about $600 billion in 2026 after exceeding $100 billion in a single quarter (Q3 2025). By contrast, mobile semiconductor revenue is projected at $89.8 billion in 2026 and is declining due to cost pressures. IDC Research VP Jeff Janukowicz said: "The semiconductor industry has crossed a structural threshold. AI is no longer a demand catalyst — it is the demand foundation."