Korean Power Equipment Makers Eye U.S. AI Boom as Grid Strains
A South Korean power equipment delegation is visiting the U.S. from September 14 to 18, 2026. The group aims to boost exports as U.S. data center growth strains the power grid. Korean transformer imports to the U.S. rose to 17.3% in 2024 from 5.2% in 2020. The delegation includes 12 Korean companies meeting with approximately 50 U.S. energy and equipment buyers in Silicon Valley and Dallas.
The U.S. data center power equipment market is forecast to jump to $65 billion by 2030, up from $20 billion in 2025. This growth is driven by AI infrastructure demand. U.S. data center capacity is projected to reach 110 gigawatts by 2030. This creates a clear export channel for Korean power equipment makers.
Korean companies are already capturing more U.S. market share for transformers. Their share grew from 5.2% in 2020 to 17.3% in 2024. This trend will likely continue as U.S. grid infrastructure struggles to keep pace with AI power needs. The addition of Silicon Valley to this year's delegation itinerary shows a direct link to AI companies.
The test for Korea is whether it can scale production fast enough to meet the forecast demand. The U.S. market needs 9,395 pad-mounted transformers by 2030. This is a five-fold increase over 2025 figures.
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