Strong momentum in chip sales continues into Q2 2026
In the first half of 2026, worldwide sales rose 102.3 % YoY to USD 701.9 billion, confirming that growth is accelerating, in line with the forecast by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS). The European market also follows this trend, with sales rising at 75.2% YoY in Q2 2026 to USD 23.0 billion, and 61.1 % YoY in the first half of 2026 to USD 41.6 billion. All figures are based on the latest report from WSTS.
To provide a complete picture, growth is highly uneven. In Q2, the primary growth driver was Total MOS Memory, while other product categories grew much more slowly. Total MOS Memory rose globally by 362.6% in Q2 2026 YoY and 305% in the first half of 2026 vs the same period in 2025. In Europe it rose by 298.9% YoY in Q2 2026, and by 243.4 % in the first half of 2026 vs the same period in 2025. This trend is driven by investment in AI, the ongoing expansion of data center infrastructure, and rising demand for automotive electronics.
Other product categories such as Logic, MOS Micro and Analog also reported healthy increases in the European market, rising respectively 38.2%, 41.7% and 20.9% in 2Q 2026 YoY.
Regionally, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and China recorded the strongest growth, rising by 160.9%, 124.4%, 112.8% in Q2 YoY, driven by robust demand for AI infrastructure and electronics, as well as continued investment in data center expansion.
Sales of application-specific chips also remained strong in Q2 2026, increasing 42.3% YoYglobally, and by 27.2% in Europe. As in Q1, growth was largely driven by Asia Pacific (up 96.7% YoY) and a 90.1% rise in chips for computers and peripherals, again reflecting strong investment in data centres and related infrastructure.
Exchange rates effects also influenced the European sales picture. Measured in Euros, Q2 2026 sales accounted to EUR 19.8 billion, up 71.1% vs. Q2 2025, and 24.5% vs. Q1 2026.
