July's surprise: chip sales surge after soft start to summer
semibiznews.com
A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc.
Story posted 1:30 p.m. EST/10:30 a.m., PST, 9/2/99
By J. Robert Lineback
SAN JOSE--After stalling out in June, worldwide chip sales apparently surged in July, growing 2.9% to $11.55 billion compared to $11.22 billion in the previous month, based on a revenues report from the Semiconductor Industry Association here today. July's month-to-month increase was the strongest this year following a slowing of sales growth in the second quarter.
When compared to a year ago, July's sales were 19.3% higher than $9.68 billion in July 1998--which was just about at the lowest point in last year's industry recession. "July's global sales continued the robust growth that began in mid-1998," observed George Scalise, president of the SIA, which bases its monthly billings report on a three-month moving average.
Compared to June, chip sales in July were up in all regions with Japan registering the strongest gains--4.2% to $2.56 billion vs. $2.46 in June, said the SIA. Europe resumed sales growth in July with an increase of 1.4% to $2.36 billion compared to $2.32 billion in June following a decline of 2.8% in the last billings report (see Aug. 5 story).
The contrast between July 1998 and July 1999 was strongest in the Asian Pacific region and Japan, said the SIA. Semiconductor sales grew 29.2% in the Asia Pacific region to $2.83 billion compared to $2.19 billion in July 1998, while chip revenues in Japan were up 24.8% to $2.56 billion vs. $2.05 billion a year ago.
Chip sales in the Americas were up 18.0% to $3.79 billion in July vs. $3.22 billion in the month last year, and revenues in Europe rose 6.3% to $2.36 billion compared to $2.22 billion in July 1998, according to the SIA billings report. |
