China’s AI chip market is growing rapidly, with chip exports doubling last month, amid U.S. export curbs.



<h2>China Chip Export Surge</h2>



According to an X post by The Kobeissi Letter on Sunday, China's chip exports surged 100% year-over-year to a record $31 billion in April. This has tripled over the past two years. 



Overseas sales of laptops, tablets, and their components spiked 47% from the year-ago month.



Overall, Chinese exports rose 14% year-over-year to $359 billion in April, representing the highest monthly reading on record, per the letter. With this, &#34;Chinese companies were generating ~$500 million in export revenue every hour on average last month,&#34; the letter stated.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote>China's chip exports are surging: China's chip exports jumped +100% YoY in April, to a record ~$31 billion. This figure has TRIPLED over the last 2 years. At the same time, overseas sales of laptops, tablets, and their components jumped +47% YoY. Goldman Sachs and Nomura… pic.twitter.com/6eRrC0TW24— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) May 21, 2026</blockquote>
</div></figure>



Goldman Sachs and Nomura estimated that semiconductors, computers, and other AI-related products accounted for half of China’s export growth last month, according to the market commentary.



<div class="bz-read-next-block">




Read Also:

Nvidia Is Going To Have To Do An Apple On Dividends, Says Jim Cramer: Sounds 'Boring' But It Works




</div>


<h2>U.S. Export Curbs, AI Demand Surge</h2>



China's leading chipmakers are scaling production of advanced semiconductors amid the U.S. export curbs, along with growing AI demand and supply shortages.



Companies such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co. (SMIC), Hua Hong Semiconductor, and many Huawei-linked chipmakers are either expanding or planning to start the production of chips using the most advanced technology available in China. 



According to Paul Triolo of Albright Stonebridge Group, the U.S. restrictions have added “rocket fuel” to demand, while export curbs on Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) chips are pushing China to adopt local alternatives. This has enabled companies like Huawei and Moore Threads to step in and fill the gap, even as they trail U.S. performance.



China's leading semiconductor firms called in March for a nationwide effort to create a homegrown alternative to ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML), the dominant supplier of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology.



<div class="bz-read-next-block">




Read Also:

Nikki Haley Says If China Controls Taiwan, The Communist Party Gains Leverage Over World's Critical Supply Chain: 'Threat To Global Freedom'




</div>


Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

603501

00981

688347

China's semiconductor exports doubled to a record $31 billion in April, driven by surging AI demand and U.S. export restrictions. This marks a 100% year-over-year increase and a tripling over the past two years. Sales of laptops and tablets also rose significantly. Major Chinese chipmakers are ramping up production of advanced semiconductors to meet this demand, as U.S. curbs push them to seek local alternatives.

- China’s chip exports surged by 100% year-over-year in April, reaching a record $31 billion, driven by significant overseas sales increases.  
- This growth comes amid U.S. export curbs and has prompted local companies to expand advanced semiconductor production to meet rising AI demand.  
- Estimates indicate that semiconductors and AI products contributed to half of China’s overall export growth, which rose 14% to $359 billion last month.

benzinga_article

OmniVision Group

SMIC

Hua Hong

HUA HONG SEMI

Cambricon

E Fund CSI Semiconductor Material & Equipment Thematic ETF

Harvest SSE STAR Chip ETF

ChinaAMC Guozheng Semiconductor Chip ETF

Guotai CSI Semiconductor Material Equipment Theme ETF

Harvest CSI All Share Integrated Circuit ETF

ChinaAMC SSE STAR Semiconductor Material & Equipment Thematic ETF

Guotai CES Semiconductor Chip Industry ETF

GF Fund CSI Semiconductor Material Equipment Theme ETF

ChinaAMC CSI Semiconductor Material & Equipment Thematic ETF

Guotai CSI All Share Integrated Circuit ETF

China Southern CSI Semiconductor Industry Custom ETF

GTJA Allianz SSE STAR Chip Design Thematic ETF

China Merchants CSI Semiconductor Industry ETF

GTJA Allianz CSI All Share Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment ETF

Goldman Sachs

Nomura

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

NVIDIA

Apple

Moore Threads

ASML

GS Hldg R

NVIDIA Corporation

SMIC HK SDR 5to1

China's Chip Exports Double To $31 Billion As US Restrictions Fuel AI Demand