China IC Exports Surge 100.1% in April 2026 Amid Global Chip Demand

China Customs reported a dramatic surge in integrated circuit exports during the first four months of 2026. The data reveals that export values doubled compared to the same period last year. This significant growth highlights a major shift in the global semiconductor trade landscape.

Storage chip prices rise 58-63% for DRAM and 70-75% for NAND Flash in Q2.

Cumulative IC exports reached approximately $103.5 billion between January and April. This figure represents an 83.7 percent year-over-year increase. The momentum accelerated sharply in April, where exports grew by 100.1 percent compared to April 2025. The first two months of the year also showed strong performance with a 72.6 percent increase.

Storage chip prices are driving much of this export volume. DRAM contract prices are expected to rise by 58 to 63 percent month-over-month in the second quarter. NAND Flash contract prices face an even steeper increase of 70 to 75 percent. Average selling prices for storage chips have climbed more than 400 percent over the last 15 months. China now holds nearly 30 percent of the global capacity for mature process nodes.

Imports also expanded significantly during this period. April 2026 saw IC imports grow by 54.8 percent year-over-year to reach $53.87 billion. Integrated circuits accounted for 12.2 percent of total electromechanical product exports in the first four months. This sector remains a critical component of China's broader hardware manufacturing output.