Trade in AI-enabling goods surged 42% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, according to the World Trade Organization, pushing AI-related products to 18.7% of all world merchandise trade, up from roughly 13% in 2023. Total merchandise trade hit approximately $4.18 trillion in Q1 2026, an 11% year-over-year increase. Semiconductors alone climbed 25% and critical minerals jumped 38%. Asian economies supply approximately 62% of global AI-enabling trade, while North America is the fastest-growing demand center. The WTO warned of risks linked to a potential speculative boom in AI investments, but noted that if demand proves sustained, it could add 0.5 percentage points to merchandise trade growth this year.
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