DJ SIA Says Global Semiconductor Sales In Feb. Rose 30.8%
SAN JOSE (Dow Jones)--Semiconductor Industry Association, or SIA, said worldwide semiconductor sales in February rose 30.8% from a year ago.
The group attributed the growth to the steady improvement in business conditions, which SIA expects will continue throughout the year.
In a press release Friday, the association said global chip sales totaled $15.58 billion, up 0.2% from January. SIA said February historically has been a relatively weak month for chip sales.
Semiconductor Industry Association President George Scalise said in a written statement, "The modest sequential growth in worldwide semiconductor sales reported for February is consistent with normal cyclical patterns."
While growth was driven by a rebound in corporate information technology spending, the association representing chip makers said the current growth cycle extends to all end markets and major product areas.
SIA is encouraged by the recovery in demand in the wireline communications sector. Customers remain cautious about inventories, and February shipments actually trailed semiconductor consumption. SIA doesn't expect inventory corrections will be a drag on chip sales.
The Semiconductor Industry Association said sales of programmable logic devices and standard cells grew by 4.3% in February, driven by a recovery in the wireline communications market.
Microprocessor sales declined by 0.7%, reflecting historic patterns of subdued personal computer sales for the month. Sales in the U.S. and Japan declined slightly, while all other geographic regions reported growth.
SIA said the wireless communications sector and consumer electronics were flat-to-down for February, but are expected to exhibit renewed momentum as the year progresses. |
