China's IC exports surged 99.5% in 2026, driven by global demand and investments in semiconductor infrastructure.
China's integrated circuit (IC) exports are experiencing significant growth, fueled by recovering global semiconductor demand and rising investments in computing infrastructure. This momentum is driving expansion across the entire domestic chip industry, from manufacturing to logistics and equipment.
Between January and July 2026, China's IC exports reached $216 billion, a remarkable 99.5% year-on-year increase, already surpassing the total for all of 2025. Shenzhen-based memory chip manufacturers are exporting around $5 million worth of products weekly to Europe. To keep up with increasing demand, companies are expanding production capacity and investing in new equipment. One manufacturer has grown its production floor from 3,000 to 8,000 square meters while reporting a 20-fold increase in first-half net profit attributable to shareholders. Logistics providers are also seeing growth, with shipment volumes for chip manufacturing hubs in Malaysia and Vietnam increasing by 20%-30% year-on-year. Individual orders exceeding $10 million are becoming more common.
The equipment segment is seeing unprecedented demand. Chip packaging equipment maker Weijian Intelligent is booked through 2028, with a 500% increase in orders for memory chip packaging equipment and a 300% rise for optical transmission chip packaging equipment. Despite doubling its production capacity earlier this year, demand continues to outpace supply, prompting further expansion plans.
PCB (printed circuit board) markets, a key part of the electronics supply chain, are also thriving. In the first half of 2026, China's PCB exports hit $16.12 billion, a 34% year-on-year increase, with growth in markets like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia exceeding 50%. Many PCB manufacturers are operating at full capacity, leading to longer lead times for new orders.
China's technical advancements in the semiconductor sector are further bolstering growth. Progress in chip stacking and packaging technologies is improving product capacity, bandwidth, and efficiency, while upgrades to optical module packaging equipment are enhancing placement yields.
From soaring export volumes and corporate expansions to synchronized growth in equipment, PCB, and logistics segments, China's semiconductor industry is entering a cycle of sustained prosperity. As global semiconductor demand broadens and computing infrastructure investments accelerate, the outlook for China's chip industry remains exceptionally strong.
