US technology imports surge as demand for AI infrastructure grows

US imports of computers, computer accessories and semiconductors have climbed to record levels, reflecting growing demand for technology hardware as investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre infrastructure accelerates.

The combined value of these imports reportedly reached US$86.9 billion in September 2026, an increase of US$12.1 billion from the previous month. The rise represents the second-largest monthly increase on record, behind the US$14.7 billion jump recorded in July.

Since the beginning of 2024, imports across these technology categories have more than quadrupled, highlighting the scale of the expansion in US demand for computing equipment and related components.

The reported year-on-year increase reached 151 per cent in September, the highest annual growth rate recorded for the group. This compares with peak annual growth of around 34 per cent during the dot-com boom of 2000.

At the September rate, the annualised value of these imports would exceed US$1 trillion for the first time.

The figures come amid heavy investment in AI infrastructure, particularly data centres that require large volumes of computers, networking equipment and processing hardware.

US government trade figures released on 4 November also showed that computer imports increased by US$7.6 billion in September, while computer accessories rose by US$5.7 billion. Semiconductor imports, however, declined by US$1.2 billion during the month.

The broader increase in technology imports highlights the scale of investment taking place in the US technology sector, while raising questions about the country’s reliance on overseas suppliers for the hardware needed to support its expanding digital infrastructure.

The longer-term impact will depend on whether this investment translates into greater domestic manufacturing capacity, productivity gains and economic returns.