Optical, digital markets to drive '03 IC biz, says iSuppli
By Mark LaPedus
Semiconductor Business News
(01/06/03 12:31 a.m. EST)
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--Propelled by the digital and optical device markets, the worldwide semiconductor industry is projected to rebound and hit $171.6 billion in 2003, up 11.8% over 2002, according to a new report from iSuppli Corp. here today.
The figures confirmed earlier reports in December about iSuppli's IC forecast for 2003. In the report, Greg Sheppard, an iSuppli executive vice president, said a potential conflict with Iraq could delay the IC recovery until the second half of 2003 (see Dec. 26, 2002 story ).
The El Segundo-based market research firm also apparently lowered its forecast. Recently, it said the semiconductor industry would grow almost 15% for 2003. iSuppli's 2003 forecast also contrasts with the disastrous plunge of 31.9% in 2001 and the weak rise of 1.5% in 2002.
Meanwhile, in 2003, semiconductor sales are expected to drop on a sequential basis in the first quarter of this year, according to iSuppli. But the first quarter still will bring 12% higher revenue than the first period of 2002. This 11-12% increase compared to the same period a year earlier will remain consistent through all four quarters of 2003, according to iSuppli.
“The semiconductor industry's stronger growth in 2003 will be driven by an across-the-board expansion of sales in the electronic equipment markets,” said Gary Grandbois, principal analyst with iSuppli. “Semiconductor revenues also will be boosted by the resolution of excess inventory issues, which depressed semiconductor revenues in 2001, and even in 2002,” he added.
iSuppli's 2003 semiconductor forecast also includes some significant findings:
*Optical devices will lead semiconductor industry growth in 2003 with an $8.3 billion rise in revenue, up 17.7% from $7 billion in 2002.
*Microcomponents will be the second-best performing semiconductor segment in 2003, led by microprocessors and digital signal processors.
*The microcomponent market will grow to $43.7 billion in 2003, up 13.4% from $39.5 billion in 2002.
*Sales of electronic equipment, a category consisting of data processing, wired communications, mobile communications, consumer, automotive and industrial, will rise to $1.03 trillion in 2003, up 6.8% from $965.6 billion in 2002. This follows a 3.4% sales decline in 2002.
*The biggest story in electronic equipment in 2003 will be sales of wired communications gear, which will return to growth after two years of plunging revenues.
*Sales of electronic components, a category consisting of semiconductors, passives, electromechanical devices, batteries and displays, will rise by 10.5% in 2003. This contrasts with modest growth of 3% in 2002. |
