Global Server Shipment Forecast and the Rise of AI and Liquid‑Cooled Servers in 2023

According to DIGITIMES Research, global server shipments fell 5.7% QoQ in Q2 2023 as brands and cloud service providers (CSPs) adopted a cautious stance, but a modest 1.5% rebound is expected in Q3, driven primarily by higher‑priced AI servers.

TrendForce revised the 2023 global server shipment forecast down to 13.835 million units, a 2.85% YoY decline, citing reduced procurement from major CSPs, OEM adjustments, and ESG‑related longer server lifespans that lower purchase volumes.

Despite the overall slowdown, AI server shipments are projected to grow over 10% YoY, with major cloud providers such as Microsoft and Google increasing investments in generative AI workloads.

IDC’s China liquid‑cooling server market report shows the sector reached $1.01 billion in 2022, a 189.9% YoY increase, and forecasts a 56.6% CAGR through 2027, reaching $9.5 billion. Leading vendors include Inspur, Super Fusion, and Ningchang, which together hold about 70% of market share.

Liquid‑cooled data centers are gaining traction across internet, telecom, government, education, finance, medical, manufacturing, and public‑utility sectors, offering higher density, lower total‑cost‑of‑ownership, and compliance with national PUE targets.

The article also lists several AI‑related research reports and e‑book bundles for purchase, emphasizing the commercial availability of in‑depth analyses on AI compute, GPU market dynamics, large‑model applications, and related technologies.