The US AI boom drives trade and investment surge – fDi Intelligence

Report on AI-Driven Digital Infrastructure Imports and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A significant surge in U.S. imports of digital infrastructure hardware, driven by investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI), is reshaping economic and trade patterns. This trend directly impacts several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This report analyzes the import data, the realignment of global supply chains, and the growth of domestic manufacturing in the context of these global objectives.

Analysis of Import Growth and Infrastructure Development (SDG 9)

The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure is a cornerstone of building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation, directly aligning with the targets of SDG 9.

Key Import Statistics (January-July 2025)

• Imports of automatic data processing machines reached $125.8 billion, a 69% increase from the corresponding period in 2024.
• These machines now constitute a record 6.1% of the total value of U.S. imports.
• Total imports of data center-related equipment, including processors, cooling systems, and integrated circuits, exceeded $295 billion, a 44% year-over-year increase.
• This category of goods accounted for 14.4% of all U.S. imports by value, underscoring its economic significance.

Contribution to Economic Growth and Innovation (SDG 8 & SDG 9)

The investment boom underpinning this import growth is a powerful driver for economic development. Private fixed investment in U.S. information processing equipment and software achieved an all-time high of $1.35 trillion in the second quarter of 2025. This AI-related investment surge contributes to the sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth outlined in SDG 8, while simultaneously advancing the technological and innovative capacity central to SDG 9.

Global Supply Chain Realignment and Sustainable Production (SDG 12 & SDG 17)

The demand for data center components has triggered a significant realignment of global supply chains, reflecting a move towards diversified and resilient production patterns, which are key tenets of SDG 12 and SDG 17.

Evolving Trade Partnerships

1. Mexico: U.S. imports from Mexico nearly doubled to $45.9 billion, leveraging tariff-free access under the USMCA agreement. This highlights the role of regional partnerships (SDG 17) in fostering stable trade.
2. Taiwan and Vietnam: Imports from both nations more than doubled, indicating a strategic diversification of the supply chain away from single-source dependency.
3. China: Imports from China were halved to $9.38 billion, largely as a result of tariff policies and a strategic shift in sourcing.

Promoting Resilient and Responsible Supply Chains (SDG 9 & SDG 12)

This diversification is fostering more resilient industrial infrastructure (SDG 9) by reducing vulnerabilities. The strategic rerouting of goods and creative logistical solutions employed by companies to navigate tariffs are creating new, more complex, but ultimately more robust supply networks. This shift encourages more responsible and transparent production and consumption patterns (SDG 12) as companies re-evaluate their global manufacturing footprints.

Growth in Domestic Manufacturing and Sustainable Communities (SDG 9 & SDG 11)

In parallel with shifting import patterns, there is a marked resurgence in domestic manufacturing, which strengthens local economies and builds sustainable industrial capacity within the U.S.

Commitment to U.S.-Based Production

• Supermicro: Expanding U.S. manufacturing operations to meet AI-driven demand.
• Vertiv: Expanded its factory in South Carolina.
• Jabil: Pledged a $500 million investment in U.S. manufacturing for cloud and AI infrastructure.
• Carrier Global: Plans to invest $1 billion in U.S. factories by 2030, focusing on essential components like cooling equipment.

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities

This onshoring trend directly supports SDG 9 by enhancing domestic industrial capabilities and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains for critical technology. Furthermore, by creating jobs and investing in local facilities, these initiatives contribute to making cities and communities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, in line with the objectives of SDG 11.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article directly addresses economic growth by highlighting how a “very significant AI-related, tech-related investment surge” has contributed to the “surprising strength of the US economy.” It quantifies this with figures like the $1.35 trillion in private fixed investment in information processing equipment. Furthermore, the expansion of US-based manufacturing by companies like Supermicro, Vertiv, and Jabil implies the creation of jobs, which is central to the “decent work” aspect of this goal.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  This is the most central SDG to the article. The entire piece focuses on the massive build-out of digital infrastructure (data centers) driven by innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI). It details the industrial activity involved, from the import of “semiconductor-heavy components” to the expansion of US manufacturing operations by suppliers like Jabil, which pledged “$500mn in US manufacturing for cloud and AI data centre infrastructure.” This directly relates to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation and industrialization.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article details significant shifts in global trade and supply chains, which are a key component of global partnerships. It describes how the US is strengthening its trade relationships with certain countries while reducing them with others. For example, it notes that US imports of data processing machines from Mexico “surged to $45.9bn,” benefiting from the USMCA trade agreement. This illustrates the dynamics of international trade partnerships in the technology sector.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article is a case study of this target in action. The economic surge is explicitly linked to “a very significant AI-related, tech-related investment surge,” which represents technological upgrading and innovation driving economic productivity.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product. The article provides clear evidence of this through the actions of US-based manufacturers. It states, “US-based manufacturers have also set up to serve this soaring demand with local production,” citing Jabil’s “$500mn” investment and Carrier Global’s “$1bn” plan for US factories, which directly contribute to domestic industrialization.
• Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research and innovation. While the target is often applied to developing countries, its principle is reflected in the article’s focus on building a robust domestic supply chain for critical AI technology. The expansion of US manufacturing by companies like Supermicro and Vertiv to “meet the unprecedented AI demand” is a direct effort to support and scale domestic technological capacity.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.11: Significantly increase the exports of developing countries. The article, from a US import perspective, shows the direct outcome of this target. It highlights that “US imports of data processing machines from Mexico surged to $45.9bn in the seven months to July, almost double the $23.4bn in the same period of 2024.” It also notes that imports from Vietnam “more than doubled,” indicating a significant increase in exports from these countries to the US market.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Value of investment in technology and infrastructure: The article states that “Private fixed investment in US information processing equipment and software reached an all-time high of $1.35tn in the second quarter of 2025.” This is a direct indicator for measuring economic growth and investment in innovative infrastructure (Targets 8.2 and 9.b).
• Value and volume of trade in high-technology goods: The article provides precise figures, such as the “$125.8bn worth of automatic data processing machines” imported by the US between January and July 2025, a 69% increase. This can be used as an indicator to measure the scale of industrial activity and technological upgrading (Target 8.2).
• Value of trade with specific partner countries: To measure progress on Target 17.11, the article provides data on bilateral trade flows. For instance, the value of US imports from Mexico reaching “$45.9bn” serves as a specific indicator of the growth in Mexico’s exports in this sector.
• Value of domestic investment in manufacturing capacity: The article mentions specific investment pledges, such as “Jabil pledged to invest $500mn in US manufacturing” and “Carrier Global plans to invest $1bn into US factories by 2030.” These figures are direct indicators of progress towards promoting domestic industrialization (Target 9.2).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: fdiintelligence.com