Global trade in AI-related goods, including semiconductors, processors, and data transmission equipment, surged by 42% year-over-year in Q1 2026. According to the World Trade Organization, these products now account for 18.7% of total world merchandise trade, up from approximately 13% in 2023.
Total merchandise trade reached $4.18 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, marking an 11% year-over-year increase. While AI-enabling goods drove significant growth, non-AI trade grew by roughly 7%. In 2025, AI-related products contributed nearly 42% of total global trade growth.
Sector-specific data shows a 25% increase in semiconductor trade and a 38% rise in critical minerals during Q1. The WTO electronic components index reached 104.9 in September 2026. Asian economies currently supply about 62% of global AI-enabling trade, while North America remains the fastest-growing demand center.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted that sustained demand could boost annual merchandise trade growth by 0.5 percentage points. Current growth is attributed to the expansion of compute infrastructure, rising inference workloads, and the diversification of supply chains due to geopolitical tensions.
