Global server shipments in third-quarter 2025 exceeded DIGITIMES' previous forecast, showing a significant 8% increase compared to the previous quarter. This was mainly driven by a 13% quarter-on-quarter increase in shipments to major US cloud service providers (CSP).
As CSPs raced to build AI computing power, they also boosted demand for traditional general-purpose servers. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft all significantly increased their shipments of both new and old models of general-purpose servers in the third quarter. However, Chinese CSPs' server purchasing power was affected by a higher base in the previous quarter and the stalemate in ongoing trade talks.
Global server shipments are expected to grow by 0.8% in fourth-quarter 2025, exceeding four million units. Large US CSPs are expected to see a slight quarter-on-quarter decrease in shipments due to a high base, but will still maintain a high level.
Chart 1: Key factors affecting 4Q25 global server shipments: Supply/demand
Chart 3: Global shipments by top-10 player, 2Q24-4Q25 (k units)
Chart 5: Taiwan server shipments and global share, 2Q24-4Q25 (k units)
Chart 35: Taiwan and global server shipments, 2021-2025 (k units)
Chart 36: Global server shipments by top-10 player, 2024-2025 (k units)
Chart 37: Taiwan server shipments by top maker, 2024-2025 (k units)
