Aus,
Note the last line in the following PR from the SIA:
World Semiconductor August Sales Grew 53 Pct
Reuters
Oct 3 2000 6:17AM ET
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Reuters) - Worldwide sales of semiconductors grew 53 percent to
hit record levels during the month of August, driven by strong Asia-Pacific region growth
and booming demand for Internet and communications devices.
Sales of semiconductors, the tiny circuits that control devices ranging from computers
to mobile phones to car brakes, rose to $18.2 billion from the $11.9 billion of August
1999, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said on Tuesday.
The SIA said the sales growth was apparent in all major geographical regions of the
world, with chips used in wired, wireless and Internet equipment in heaviest demand.
The Asia-Pacific region, which includes manufacturing powerhouses such as Taiwan
and Korea, grew 60.2 percent from August a year ago. Japan sales grew 53.7 percent.
The Americas rose 50.3 percent and Europe's sales climbed 46.4 percent.
Regional growth was up sequentially in each major geographic region, the SIA data
showed. August's $18.2 billion in sales compared with the $17.3 billion reported in July.
The trade group said the August data puts the industry on track to reach market
forecasts for growth above 30 percent for the full year 2000.
The SIA's Global Sales Report is a three-month moving average of sales activity. The
report is tabulated by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization,
which represent some 70 major chip producers. The three-month moving average is a
mathematical smoothing technique that takes out variations due to companies' monthly
financial calendars.
From its beginning in the 1950s, the semiconductor industry has been characterized by
a four year cycle which has been sporadically modified by unexpected economic
factors. Strong growth cycles such as the industry is now experiencing are somewhat
offset by cyclical downturns in subsequent years.
Sales of microprocessors, the brains of personal computers, have posted moderate
single-digit growth in recent months, according to financial analysts.
By contrast, flash memory chips, which give electronics such as mobile phones their
``instant-on'' features, have grown well in excess of 100 percent, highlighting the
explosive demand for communications equipment over PC-based devices. |
