Catenaa, Saturday, October 10, 2026- The US has increasingly relied on foreign semiconductors for its AI data center buildout, as chip imports doubled in the first eight months.
According to Yahoo Finance, August trade data shows that the US imported nearly $90.5 billion in chips during the first eight months of 2026, almost twice the $49.2 billion brought in at the same point in 2025.
Semiconductor exports have outpaced rising global demand, with exports increasing by only over $10 billion, suggesting growth in the US sector.
Yahoo Finance reported that new data from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis shows similar trends in related products such as computers and computer accessories, which also saw imports skyrocket in 2026.
The trade deficit was “boosted by relentless business spending on high-tech goods associated with the AI buildout, which shows no signs of slowing,” Grace Zwemmer, a US economist at Oxford Economics, wrote in an analysis according to Yahoo Finance.
She added that AI spending falls under capital goods imports, which rose an eye-popping 66% year over year. “We expect capital goods imports to support strong growth in total imports well into 2027,” Zwemmer said.
The latest data, according to Yahoo Finance, shows the US imported $15.4 billion worth of semiconductors in August, compared with $7.8 billion in semiconductor exports, for a monthly trade deficit of $7.6 billion. That is a marked change from a small monthly surplus of almost $400 million in August 2025.
Rising semiconductor imports reflect growing investment in AI infrastructure. However, the increase also highlights the United States’ continued reliance on overseas chip production despite efforts to expand domestic manufacturing.
The CHIPS and Science Act, passed with bipartisan support in 2022, established federal incentives to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The legislation sought to reduce dependence on overseas production and support investment in US chipmaking facilities.
The law has led to significant progress in manufacturing under both the Biden and Trump administrations, with multiple semiconductor manufacturing facilities breaking ground.
Companies are quickly expanding semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association’s 2026 State of the US Semiconductor Industry report.
Despite efforts to increase domestic production, strong demand for advanced semiconductors used in AI systems continues to challenge US chip supply chains.
