India, Oct. 7 -- Global semiconductor industry's 2026 growth numbers are surreal, with the first half year growth up 102.5% vs. 2025. On current trends, full year growth will reach between 120-140%, the strongest growth ever in the industry's 70-plus-year history.

Malcolm Penn, Founder and CEO, Future Horizons, said in the Industry Update Seminar that Jan. 2026 outlook was decidedly unclear. 2025 market growth driven by ASPs, and not units defying normal economic logic. It's a tale of two markets - red-hot data center boom vs. moribund everything else. AI DC boom is masking non-AI excess capex and still bloated inventory.

Oct. 2026 status is the tale of two markets. Euphoric AI growth is masking weak chip fundamentals. Economy is growin...