Asia Pacific tech spending surge faces hidden headwinds. Forrester projects 9.3% growth in 2026, reaching over $437 billion through 2030, driven by AI infrastructure and cloud adoption. However, software and hardware inflation are eroding real purchasing power as vendors embed AI into pricing and component costs climb from tariffs and supply chain pressures. The Strait of Hormuz crisis compounds challenges, disrupting 20% of global oil supply and threatening energy-dependent markets like Japan and South Korea. India leads regional growth at 13.4%, while Vietnam hits 15.4%, but CIOs must account for the gap between budget allocation and actual technology acquisition capacity in their planning.
