How does the movement of AI data centres affect technology imports?
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How does the movement of AI data centres affect technology imports?
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is driving demand for more data centres around the world.
However, concerns around power availability, water consumption, land use and environmental impact are influencing where these new facilities are being built.
While Europe and the US remain some of the biggest locations for data centre development, attention is turning to Asia and Africa to support the next stage of this infrastructure growth.
And, as data centres move to new markets, so does the technology required to build, operate and maintain those facilities.
In our latest blog, we explore why AI data centres are moving into new areas, what this means for global technology trade and the import considerations businesses need to navigate when shipping equipment internationally.
First, why are data centres moving into new markets?
Data centres housing AI systems require large quantities of electricity, connectivity, land and infrastructure to run effectively – as well as a substantial amount of water to keep the systems cool.
These factors are increasingly influencing where data centres are being built.
In Europe and the US, many proposed data centre projects have faced delays or cancellations due to concerns around environmental impact. In fact, according to Data Center Watch, around 75 data centre projects in the US (worth approximately $130 billion) were blocked or delayed in Q1 of 2026 alone.
However, this does not mean data centre development is stopping or even slowing.
Developers are now looking to other countries where the right combination of energy, land, water and infrastructure is available – notably, in Asia and Africa.
In Asia, data centre growth is forecast to soar in the coming years. According to Goldman Sachs Research, data centre demand in China is expected to grow by 20% every year until 2028.
Africa is also developing its data centre capacity, with the Africa Data Centers Association expecting data centre demand to grow by 12.8% every year between 2024 and 2030.
With new markets locations as potential data centre hotspots, the global supply of AI technology, infrastructure and hardware is likely to change too.
What does this mean for global technology trade?
Simply put, the movement of AI data centre technology is becoming more geographically diverse.
As new data centres are developed across Asia, Africa and other emerging markets, the servers, GPUs, networking equipment and other infrastructure needed to operate them will also need to be transported there.
This means manufacturers, distributors and resellers of data centre hardware will need to ship equipment to countries they may not have previously supplied.
For example, equipment that is regularly shipped to the US for use in data centres may now be destined for countries in Asia or Africa. Since these countries have different import and customs requirements, this can create additional considerations for the shipper.
As a result, navigating different import requirements and customs processes will become increasingly important for businesses moving data centre technology into new locations.
What import requirements need to be considered?
Import regulations and customs requirements vary between countries and can depend on the type, value and intended use of the equipment.
For example, businesses that are familiar with the import process in the US and Europe may need to consider other requirements in Asia and Africa, including:
Classification and valuation – as commodity codes can differ between markets, equipment needs to be correctly re-classified and valued
Duties and taxes – import duties, VAT etc. can vary significantly between countries and must be paid on arrival to its destination
Licences or permits – some countries require technology to have a specific licence before shipping e.g. a CCC certification in China
Product compliance requirements – local technical, safety or certification requirements might differ from those in the US or Europe
Restricted, dual-use or controlled goods requirements – certain technology may be subject to additional controls
Getting these requirements right before a shipment leaves its country of origin can help reduce the risk of delays, refusal, unexpected costs or other issues during customs clearance.
When is an Importer of Record needed?
For businesses shipping data centre infrastructure into new countries, getting the import process right is crucial. However, without a local entity in the country or up-to-date knowledge of the customs requirements, it can be difficult!
In this case, an Importer of Record (IOR) can be invaluable!
An IOR takes responsibility for the entire shipment – ensuring the import complies with the local requirements, helping to manage the process through customs clearance and even arranging final delivery to its end destination.
This can be particularly important for businesses shipping technically complex equipment within a fixed project timeline, since an IOR can help streamline the import and customs process to ensure the technology arrives without delay.
Mouse & Bear are here to support you
Here at Mouse & Bear, we’re a specialist Importer and Exporter of Record for technology.
With our expert services and support, we help businesses move computers, telecoms technology, medical devices, cloud computing equipment and more, to over 160 countries.
We work closely with our clients to create bespoke customs support and tailored import plans to suit any project, no matter the size.
So, if you’re looking for expert customs support to help ship data centre hardware to emerging Asian and African countries, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to see how we can support you: https://www.mouseandbear.com/contact-us