Global Chip Sales Jump 33% On Growth Of Wireless, Internet Sectors
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- World-wide semiconductor sales rose 33%
in February on continued robust demand from wireless
communications and Internet sectors.
Sales climbed to $14.56 billion from $10.92 billion a year
ago, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
Asia-Pacific sales surged 45%, while sales from Japan rose 43% for the month.
Sales from the Americas grew at a 25%
rate, as did European sales.
The association said it expects semiconductor
communications networks and the Internet to continue to
provide broad product growth across all chip sectors as the
year progresses
The trade group's report emphasizes the sector's continuing
optimism. In its report on 1999 sales, issued in February,
the assocation said exploding demand for communications
devices and a more disciplined approach to adding
manufacturing capacity should help semiconductor companies
avoid the boom-or-bust cycles that have troubled the
business throughout its history.
The association said at that time that it expected 60% of
the industry's growth in 2000 to come from communications
devices -- a loosely defined category that includes chips
used in cellular phones, handheld computers and other
Internet-ready appliances.
The trade group also forecast a 20% increase in total
industry revenue in both 2000 and 2001. World-wide sales
reached an all-time high of $149 billion in 1999.
The figures show how fully the industry has recovered from
the severe downturn of 1996 to 1998, the association said
in February. Two years ago, the industry was struggling to
emerge from one of the worst recessions in its history,
sparked by a woeful oversupply of semiconductors.
The early 1990s were marked by brisk demand and rapid
expansion of capacity, followed by bloated inventories and
a sharp drop in prices.
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Month-to-Month Sales
Market Last Month Current Month % Change
Americas 4.50 4.44 -1.3%
Europe 3.15 3.12 -0.8%
Japan 3.29 3.28 -0.1%
Asia Pacific 3.84 3.71 -3.4%
Total 14.78 14.56 -1.5%
Year-to-Year Sales
Market Last Year Current Month % Change
Americas 3.56 4.44 24.7%
Europe 2.50 3.12 25.1%
Japan 2.30 3.28 42.5%
Asia Pacific 2.55 3.71 45.4%
Total 10.92 14.56 33.4%
Three-Month-Moving
Average Sales
Market Last 3 Months Current 3 Months % Change
Americas 4.31 4.44 3.0%
Europe 3.07 3.12 1.9%
Japan 3.19 3.28 3.0%
Asia Pacific 3.67 3.71 1.1%
Total 14.24 14.56 2.3% |
