Recent Developments in Global Semiconductor Industry

This executive briefing summarizes recent developments in the global semiconductor (“chips”) industry. In 2022, global semiconductor sales reached an all-time high at $574 billion. It is projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2030, driven by demands from computing and data storage, wireless communication, and automotive electronics. China is the largest downstream user of semiconductors, as Chinese manufacturers incorporate semiconductors into a range of electronic products that are consumed domestically or exported globally. The United States still captures the largest share of value created in the semiconductor industry, though it is no longer the biggest producer. Global semiconductor manufacturing, instead, is concentrated in four Asian economies—South Korea (S. Korea), Taiwan, China, and Japan. Recognizing the importance of semiconductors for the economy and national security, major economies around the world have recently stepped up efforts to boost investment and expand domestic semiconductor production capacity.