Global server market, 2Q 2026: Supply constraints curb shipment momentum, global server shipments up 2.8% in 3Q26

In the second quarter of 2026, global server shipments were below prior expectations, growing 3.8% quarter-over-quarter. The main reason was tight supply of key components such as memory, CPU, and IC substrate, which curbed overall system shipment momentum. Even so, procurement by large US cloud service providers still grew 11.6% quarter-over-quarter, and the development of agentic AI applications has shifted cloud service providers' compute deployments away from accelerator-led AI servers toward more CPU-centric servers for compute and storage. Shipments by branded vendors also declined 5.6%. In addition to tighter supply constraints affecting larger cloud service providers, general enterprises were less willing to accept increases in server prices, causing shipments to fall short of expectations.

Looking into the third quarter of 2026, global server shipments are expected to surpass 5 million units for the first time, up 2.8% quarter-over-quarter. While growth will continue, supply shortages will weigh on the pace, and the growth rate will slow from the prior quarter. In particular, procurement by large US cloud service providers will rise only 1.7% quarter-over-quarter, a clear deceleration. Branded vendors should rebound, with combined shipments from Dell, Supermicro, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) expected to grow 5.8% quarter-over-quarter.

This report covers the performance of major server brands and manufacturers in the second quarter of 2026, as well as the outlook for the third quarter of 2026.