Stratum Market Research
Request a sample

Data Centers & AIEuropean UnionUpdated 4 Nov 2026

AI computing hardware Market 2026: trade data and key figures

The EU imported €20.71 billion of aI computing hardware and related goods (CN 85423190) from outside the EU in 2025. That was 37% more than in 2020. Malaysia was the largest outside supplier.

Edited by the Stratum Market Research editorial team. Updated 4 Nov 2026.

Headline figure

20.71EUR billion

EU imports from outside the EU, 2025

Extra-EU imports of CN 85423190, EUR million20202025 Eurostat, 4 Nov 2026

+37 % change

Extra-EU imports of CN 85423190 were up 37% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€15.17 billion), calculated from Eurostat values.

Eurostat

16.44 EUR billion

EU exports of CN 85423190 to countries outside the EU were worth €16.44 billion in 2025.

Eurostat

10.78 EUR billion

Trade between EU member states in CN 85423190 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €10.78 billion in 2025.

Eurostat
ChartExtra-EU imports of CN 85423190, EUR million
Extra-EU imports of CN 85423190, EUR million07,5001.5k2.2k3k2020: 1.5k EUR million1.5k20202021: 2k EUR million20212022: 2.6k EUR million20222023: 2.4k EUR million20232024: 2k EUR million20242025: 2.1k EUR million2.1k2025

Source: Eurostat

Why this market is moving now

  • Extra-EU import value moved +37% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
  • Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
  • US employment in the core industry shifted -47% since 2020.

What this market covers

Chips, boards and systems built to train and run AI models. Cloud providers, enterprises and device makers buy them as AI workloads spread.

Typical segments

  • Accelerator chips
  • AI servers
  • Edge AI modules
  • Networking and memory for AI

Who buys

  • Cloud providers
  • Enterprises
  • Device makers

Largest non-EU suppliers to the EU

CountryImport value
Malaysia5,109.4 EUR million
Taiwan3,402.5 EUR million
Israel3,239.3 EUR million
China2,293.8 EUR million
Costa Rica1,546.9 EUR million
Viet Nam1,160.6 EUR million

Key figures

Each figure links to the page it came from.

FigureValueYearSource
The EU imported €20.71 billion of products under CN code 85423190 (Electronic integrated circuits as processors and controllers, whether or not combined) from outside the EU in 2025.20.71 EUR billion2025Eurostat
Extra-EU imports of CN 85423190 were up 37% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€15.17 billion), calculated from Eurostat values.+37 % change2025Eurostat
EU exports of CN 85423190 to countries outside the EU were worth €16.44 billion in 2025.16.44 EUR billion2025Eurostat
Trade between EU member states in CN 85423190 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €10.78 billion in 2025.10.78 EUR billion2025Eurostat
Malaysia was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 85423190 to the EU in 2025, with €5.11 billion, or 25% of extra-EU imports.5.11 EUR billion2025Eurostat
EU exports of CN 85423190 to the United States were €1.63 billion in 2025.1.63 EUR billion2025Eurostat
The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 85423190 was €2,886.54 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight.2,886.54 EUR per kg2025Eurostat
Ireland was the largest EU exporter of CN 85423190 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €7.07 billion.7.07 EUR billion2025Eurostat
The EU had 5,090 enterprises in NACE class C2620 (Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment) in 2023.5,090 enterprises2023Eurostat
The US had 1,092 private establishments in NAICS 334111 (Electronic computer manufacturing) in 2025.1,092 establishments2025U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
NAICS 334111 employed an average of 58,215 people in US private industry in 2025.58,215 jobs2025U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
US employment in NAICS 334111 changed by -47% between 2020 (109,294 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures.-47 % change2025U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Average annual pay in US NAICS 334111 was $264,969 in 2025.264,969 USD per year2025U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

What the full report covers

Illustration of a report page with its five main parts numbered12345
  1. 1

    Executive summary

    The answer on two pages: size, growth and what drives it.

  2. 2

    Market size and outlook

    History, the current year and a five-year view with base, low and high cases.

  3. 3

    Segments and regions

    Splits by product, buyer and geography across the US, Europe and MEA.

  4. 4

    Company profiles

    The main players, how they compete and where they are investing.

  5. 5

    Data and method

    Every figure in Excel, with the sources and assumptions behind it.

  1. 01Executive summary
    The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it
  2. 02Market definition and scope
    What is in and out of the European Union market
  3. 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
    Historical series and growth rates
  4. 04Outlook to 2031
    Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions
  5. 05Rules, policy and deadlines
    Regulation and programmes that change demand
  6. 06Drivers and barriers
    What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment
  7. 07Prices, costs and margins
    Unit economics where public data allows
  8. 08Competitive landscape
    8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves
  9. 09Opportunities and risks
    For new entrants, suppliers and investors
  10. 10Method and sources
    Every assumption and source, listed

Included with the full report

  • PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
  • Excel data pack
  • Ready-to-use charts
  • Method note and assumptions
  • Written to order in 5 working days

Frequently asked questions

How big is the EU aI computing hardware market?

There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €20.71 billion of goods under CN 85423190 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €16.44 billion.

Where does the EU import aI computing hardware from?

Malaysia was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. The next largest were Taiwan, Israel, China.

What is the average import price of aI computing hardware in the EU?

Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €2,886.54 per kilogram for CN 85423190 in 2025.

Which EU countries export the most aI computing hardware?

Ireland led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, Netherlands.

How many US companies are in the aI computing hardware industry?

BLS counts 1,092 private establishments in NAICS 334111 (Electronic computer manufacturing), the closest official industry.

How many EU companies are in the aI computing hardware industry?

Eurostat counts 5,090 enterprises in NACE class C2620 (Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment).

Sources and method

The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.

  1. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85423190, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 20710526146
  2. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85423190, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 15171103305; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 20710526146
  3. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85423190, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 16436478945
  4. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85423190, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 10779195438
  5. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85423190, partner MY, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 5109361397
  6. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85423190, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1632898714
  7. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 85423190, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 20710526146, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 71749
  8. Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)DS-045409, reporter IE, product 85423190, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 7074148702
  9. Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2620, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 5090
  10. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 334111, 2025 (2026-11-04)QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334111, annual_avg_estabs 1092
  11. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 334111, 2025 (2026-11-04)QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334111, annual_avg_emplvl 58215
  12. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 334111, 2025 (2026-11-04)QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 109294; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 58215
  13. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 334111, 2025 (2026-11-04)QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334111, avg_annual_pay 264969

Free sample

Get a free sample of this report

We send the table of contents, two sample chapters and the method note, usually within one working day. You owe us nothing for asking.

  • Full table of contents
  • Two sample chapters
  • Method note and data outline
A market, a region or the decision you are making helps us pick the right chapters.

We use your details only to reply. See our privacy policy.

Full report $3,450Choose an edition