US imports of computers, accessories, and semiconductors reached a record $86.9 billion in September 2026. This figure represents a 151% increase compared to the same period in the previous year, according to data from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The monthly growth in tech imports was driven by computers, which rose by $7.6 billion, and accessories, which added $5.7 billion. Conversely, semiconductor imports experienced a decline of $1.2 billion during the same month.
Annualized tech imports now exceed $1 trillion. The surge in demand for AI-enabling hardware has caused US consumption of such equipment to quadruple since early 2024, shifting the country from a net exporter of technology products three years ago to a major importer.
Technology products accounted for approximately 61% of the US trade deficit in September, with computers and semiconductors alone contributing a $64 billion deficit. Total capital goods imports also hit a record $158 billion for the month.
The growth is largely attributed to the construction of hyperscale data centers by cloud and AI operators. Much of the economic value from these imports flows to overseas suppliers, particularly in Taiwan and South Korea.
