India, April 8 -- The global semiconductor industry is entering an unusual phase where growth is being driven less by broad-based demand and more by a concentrated surge around artificial intelligence (AI). According to Gartner, worldwide semiconductor revenue is set to cross USD 1.3 trillion in 2026, marking one of the strongest growth cycles the industry has seen in over two decades.

At the centre of this surge is what Gartner terms "memflation", or sharp increases in memory pricing. Memory revenues are expected to nearly triple, rising from USD 216.3 billion in 2025 to USD 633.3 billion in 2026. DRAM prices alone are projected to jump by 125%, while NAND flash could see an even steeper rise of 234%. Any meaningful easing of prices is ...