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Sharp Increase in Global Semiconductor Sales in Q1 2026
May 5, 2026 | ESIAEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA) reports that, in the first quarter of 2026, the global semiconductor market recorded a sharp increase of 79.2% year-on-year, reaching USD 298.55 billion in sales. The European market also experienced strong growth, with sales rising by 46.5% compared to Q1 2025, to USD 18.60 billion. All figures are based on the latest report from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS).
The global market expansion in Q1 2026 was primarily driven by MOS memory (+236.4%), logic (+40.1%), MOS micro (+18.8%), and analog (+14.9%) chips, supported by rising demand from data centres and AI applications, cloud computing, and automotive applications.
A similar trend in sales was observed in Europe, where MOS Memory (+176.8%), Logic (+35.9%), and Analog (+21.6%) were among the main contributors to growth. Notably, all analysed product categories recorded growth during the quarter. MOS Memory stands out as a separate driver, with exceptionally strong growth due to solid AI-related demand and favourable pricing. Globally, MOS Memory sales significantly amplified the overall market expansion.
Regionally, the strongest growth was recorded in Asia-Pacific (+108.5% compared to Q1 2025) and the Americas (+83.1%), underpinned by strong demand for AI and data centre infrastructure.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, global semiconductor sales continued their upward trajectory, increasing by 25.0% in Q1 2026 compared to Q4 2025, supported by gains in MOS memory, logic, MOS micro, and analog chips. European sales followed a similar pattern, rising by 26.1% over the same period, with MOS Memory, Logic, and Analog again acting as the primary growth drivers.
At the global level, sales of application-specific chips increased by 35.2% year-on-year, reaching USD 109.03 billion in Q1 2026. Similarly to 2025, this growth was largely driven by a 67.2% surge in chips for computers and peripherals, reflecting strong investment in data centres and related infrastructure.
In Europe, sales in this category totalled USD 8.23 billion, marking a 26.7% increase compared to Q1 2025.
In Q1 2026, exchange rate effects are visible on the European sales picture. Measured in euros, the sales figures for Q1 2026 amounted to EUR 15.89 billion, a 30.2% rise versus Q1 2025, and a 21.1% increase vs. Q4 2025.
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