AI gold rush transforms trans-Pacific trade and logistics
The data center boom has become a lucrative market for logistics companies, especially in the Asia-Pacific and United States. The post AI gold rush transforms trans-Pacific trade and logistics appeared first on FreightWaves .
The AI infrastructure boom is reshaping trans-Pacific trade and logistics, with freight transportation companies scaling up rapidly to support semiconductor supply chains. Semiconductors and data-transmission equipment now drive 42% of global trade growth, surging to 76% in the first quarter of 2025. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis estimates that without AI investment, U.S. imports would have declined by 10% in 2025.
China, the hub for AI chip production, has fueled import growth, while imports of other goods have declined. The Asia-Pacific region, home to key AI hardware producers, saw a significant trade bump. Analysts predict massive investments in data centers, with 2,000 expected to be built globally between 2026 and 2035, and a $23 billion market for data center logistics in 2025, growing to at least $35 billion by 2030.
The global semiconductor market is projected to reach $975 billion, and data center capital expenditure could reach $31.6 trillion by 2050.
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