Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Global Semiconductor Market Set to Surpass $1.6 Trillion
The world may buy more than $1.6 trillion worth of computer chips in 2026.
Much of this growth is coming from companies building powerful artificial intelligence systems.
These systems need many memory chips to process large amounts of data.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to supply a large share of those memory chips.
Prices for some memory chips have risen sharply compared with last year.
Experts expect memory prices to become steadier next year.
Even so, the overall chip market could grow to about $2 trillion by 2030.
Some people in the AI industry are calling for slower AI development because they worry about losing control of the technology.
South Korea’s semiconductor industry has also added jobs and reported higher average pay.
The global semiconductor market is projected to exceed $1.6 trillion in 2026, driven by increased AI infrastructure investment.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix memory chips could account for more than half of the global semiconductor market.
DRAM prices rose 4.4-fold and NAND flash prices ninefold from a year earlier as of the end of last month.
The market is forecast to reach approximately $2 trillion by 2030, even as memory prices are expected to stabilise from next year.
South Korea’s chip industry employed 174,000 people in the first quarter, while average monthly pay reached 4.32 million won in the first half of the year.
- Who
- The global semiconductor industry, major U.S. and Chinese hyperscalers, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and South Korean chip workers.
- What
- The global semiconductor market is projected to exceed $1.6 trillion in 2026 and potentially reach about $2 trillion by 2030.
- When
- The projection concerns 2026, with prices reported as of the end of last month and employment data from the first quarter.
- Where
- The market is global; the employment and wage figures concern South Korea, with the report issued from Seoul.
- Why
- Investment in AI infrastructure and rising demand for data processing are driving semiconductor and memory-chip demand.
Calls for Caution
Industry Growth Outlook
Future of AI development
Calls for Caution
Some parts of the AI industry are calling for development to slow because of concerns about losing control of the technology.
Industry Growth Outlook
Major U.S. and Chinese hyperscalers are continuing to increase AI infrastructure investment, while industry sources expect demand for memory chips to remain strong in the near term.
- 2026 market forecast
- More than $1.6 trillion
- 2030 market forecast
- About $2 trillion
- Memory-chip leaders
- Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to account for more than half of the global semiconductor market.
- DRAM price increase
- Prices were up 4.4-fold from a year earlier.
- NAND flash price increase
- Prices were up ninefold from a year earlier.
- South Korean chip employment
- 174,000 workers in the first quarter, up from 152,000 in the first quarter of 2018.
- Average monthly industry salary
- 4.32 million won, or about $3,100, in the first half of the year.