Global chip sales jump 25% in Q1 on AI boom, industrial recovery

The sector remains on course to reach $1t in annual sales in 2026.

Global semiconductor sales rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, climbing 25% quarter on quarter, according to industry figures released on May 4.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said worldwide chip sales reached $298.5b in Q1, up from Q4 2025 levels. In March alone, sales hit $99.5 billion—an increase of 79.2% compared with March 2025 and 11.5% higher than February 2026. Monthly figures are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) and reflect a three-month moving average.

The SIA, which represents 99% of the US semiconductor industry by revenue and nearly two-thirds of non-US chip firms, said the sector remains on course to reach $1t in annual sales in 2026.

“Global chip sales remain on track to reach $1 trillion in 2026, with Q1 sales significantly exceeding sales in Q4 2025,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO of the SIA. “Strong sales across the Asia Pacific region, the Americas, and China drove global semiconductor market growth, highlighting broad and robust demand for semiconductors and the countless tech products they enable.”

Regionally, March year-on-year sales rose across all major markets: Asia Pacific/All Other up 108.5%, the Americas 83.1%, China 74.8%, Europe 46.5%, and Japan 7.4%.

On a monthly basis, sales also increased across every region, led by the Americas (13.3%) and China (12.7%), followed by Asia Pacific/All Other (9.8%), Europe (8.4%) and Japan (7.1%).