Global semiconductor sales reached $120.6 billion in May 2026, the highest monthly total ever recorded, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported. The figure marks a 9.2% increase from April’s $110.5 billion and a 104.1% surge from May 2025.
This represents the 15th consecutive month of month-to-month growth, underscoring the unprecedented demand wave driven by AI infrastructure buildout. The Americas region led with 132.2% year-over-year growth, followed by Asia Pacific at 118.9% and China at 88.8%. Europe grew 60.7% and Japan 23.8%.
“The global semiconductor market continued to grow substantially in May, hitting the highest-ever recorded monthly sales total,” said SIA President and CEO John Neuffer. Month-to-month gains were broad-based: China up 10.7%, Asia Pacific up 9.2%, Americas up 8.6%, Europe up 7.3%, and Japan up 6.4%.
The data, compiled by WSTS as a three-month moving average, reflects accelerating AI chip deployment. Analysts project the industry could surpass $2 trillion in annual revenue by 2027 if current growth trajectories hold.
The Americas region’s dominant performance highlights the impact of onshoring investments and the concentration of AI chip designers like Nvidia and AMD in the US market.
