Global trade in artificial intelligence-related goods has doubled over the past decade, with Asia driving most exports and the United States recording a sharp rise in imports, according to a research report released by Allianz Trade, a Paris-based trade credit insurer.
The report found that exports of AI-enabling goods, including semiconductors, computing infrastructure, and digital services equipment, grew from $1.9 trillion in 2014 to $3.8 trillion in 2025, accounting for 15% of global trade. That growth far outpaced the 40% increase in overall goods trade during the same period.
Asia accounted for 65% of global AI-related exports, with China holding the largest share at 18%, followed by Taiwan at 12% and Hong Kong at 11%. Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan also ranked among the top 10 exporters. Mexico recorded the fastest growth in 2025 at 62% year over year, while Thailand and the Philippines were identified as emerging hubs.
The report outlined three phases of acceleration in AI-related trade. The first occurred in 2017–2018, driven by demand for AI goods and the introduction of new AI architecture. A second surge followed in 2021, spurred by the release of large-scale AI models. The latest phase has been fueled by advances in multimodal and agentic AI systems, with Taiwan and South Korea posting year-over-year export growth of 62% and 105%, respectively, in the first two months of 2026.
On the import side, the US has tripled its purchases of advanced AI-related products since 2023, a trend the report linked to the country’s dominance in AI services and its 5,427 operational data centers, representing 45% of the global total.
Allianz Trade also flagged supply chain risks. Taiwan, which holds a 70% global market share in semiconductor manufacturing, saw wafer shipment revenues rise 40.6% in the first quarter of 2026. The report warned that an energy crisis in the Middle East could push semiconductor prices higher because of supply concentration.
Countries most exposed to a potential AI trade bubble were identified as Taiwan and Hong Kong, where AI-related goods accounted for 74% and 59% of exports, respectively. Singapore and the Philippines each stood at 47%, followed by Malaysia at 43% and South Korea at 32%. By contrast, AI-enabling goods represented only 15% of US exports, suggesting broader diversification.
The report noted that AI and trade policy can no longer be treated as separate domains, as AI growth depends on globalized supply chains while trade patterns are increasingly shaped by control over AI infrastructure and data flows.
