WSTS Raises 2026 Chip Market Forecast to $1.51 Trillion, Driven by AI and Memory
World Semiconductor Trade Statistics raised its 2026 forecast for the global semiconductor market to $1.51 trillion, projecting 90% growth driven by AI-related computing and what it described as an extraordinary expansion in memory. The new outlook is up sharply from the $1.0 trillion estimate published in March.
Memory is expected to be the biggest contributor to the increase, with that segment projected to jump 250% to more than $800 billion in 2026, compared with 37% growth for logic chips. WSTS also projected the global semiconductor market will rise a further 27% in 2027 to $1.9 trillion.
From the sources (4 posts)
@dnystedtThe global semiconductor market will surge 90% to US$1.51 trillion in 2026 led by AI-related computing and the “extraordinary memory expansion”, WSTS said, up sharply from the $1.0T forecast in March. $NVDA $MU $TSM #Samsung #semiconductors
@dnystedtExtraordinary. Some firms had raised forecasts to $1.5 billion by 2030, replacing the prior $1 trillion view. But ... $1.5T this year?!?!
@dnystedtIt's a MONSTER upward revision from $975 billion for 2026, previously. Memory alone is expected +250% to over $800 billion this year. Logic up 37% Americans +112%, Asia Pacific +87% Global market in 2027 +27% to $1.9 trillion #semicon
@zephyr_z9Memory prices played the biggest role in this growth Much more than logic chips