US CHIP IMPORTS HIT MONTHLY RECORD

US imports of semiconductors reached a record $15.4 billion in August, the largest monthly jump on record according to Commerce Department data, as AI data center construction accelerates nationwide. Year-to-date chip imports have climbed to $90.5 billion, up from $49.2 billion over the same period in 2025. The chip sector, tracked by $SOXX, is absorbing the bulk of that demand.