[AI Infrastructure Shortage Drives Up Chip Prices: China's Semiconductor Export Value Soars 111% in May, Shipment Volume Up Only 2%] According to monitoring by Beating, the global AI data center infrastructure's insatiable demand for hardware has pushed semiconductor profits into a full-blown price surge. In May 2026, China's semiconductor export value skyrocketed by 111% year-on-year to a record $36 billion, while actual chip shipment volume during the same period increased by only 2% year-on-year. The doubling of semiconductor export value with nearly flat shipment volume reveals the true extent of the global shortage in computing power hardware. Prices of high-value-added chips have surged significantly due to the shortage of AI computing power, directly driving up semiconductor export value. During the same period, exports of computers and components also soared 66% year-on-year to approximately $27 billion, marking the second-highest record in history. Chips and computer components together contributed to about half of China's total import and export growth in May. Propelled by the sharp rise in computing power export value, China's overall exports in May grew 19% year-on-year, while imports surged 27% year-on-year, resulting in a trade surplus of $105.4 billion, the highest level since January 2026. [Original Link]