Physix FrontierPhysix Frontier · News Briefing Card (CNBC Tech · Sep 26, 2026)
China prefab data center makers target US AI buildout
KEY FACTS
- Singapore-based Brightray plans to bring prefabricated data centers to the US market.
- Its sole manufacturer is Chinese company PrefabDC, which produces the prefabricated data centers.
- In 2025, the US had 5,427 AI data centers, while China had 449.
- US tech giants will spend about $765 billion on AI infrastructure this year.
- China's government plans to invest $295 billion in data center construction over the next five years.
KEY DATA
5,427Number of US AI data centers (2025)
449Number of China AI data centers (2025)
about $765 billionUS tech giants' AI infrastructure spending this year
$295 billionChina government's planned data center investment over next five years
PHYSIX OBSERVATION
China's supply chain remains irreplaceable for key data center components such as transformers and batteries, and the US will struggle to shake off its dependence in the short term. But geopolitical risk is rising, and a ban under consideration by the Trump administration could cut off this path. Chinese manufacturers want a slice of the US pie, but the political threshold is higher than the commercial one.
Source: CNBC Tech report