September chip sales increase strongest in eight years, says SIA
By J. Robert Lineback
SAN JOSE -- More good news for the battered semiconductor
industry. Chip sales grew 4.2% in September to $10.23 billion
compared to $9.82 billion in August, according to the latest Global
Sale Report released today by the Semiconductor Industry Association
here.
The sales increase was the largest percentage jump for the month of
September in eight years, according to SIA president George Scalise.
"This increases our optimism for stronger-than-expected sales in the
fourth quarter, as it is typically the most active period of the year," he
said.
Compared to a year ago, September's chip sales were down 13.5%
from the $11.83 billion reported in the same month in 1997.
However, the sales increase from August is in line with growing
optimism that the current semiconductor slump has bottomed out and
that momentum might be building for a full recovery in 1999. Earlier this
week, market researcher IC Insights Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., had
estimated a 4.3% increase in September chip sales over August
revenues, using a three-month rolling average similar to what is used in
the SIA report. Because the month-to-month increase was so strong,
IC Insights predicted that it was the beginning of the next growth cycle
for the chip industry (see Nov. 3 story).
The new SIA report showed that all of the world's chip markets grew
in September compared to totals recorded for August. In the
Americas, chip sales increased 4.0% to $3.44 billion compared to
$3.31 billion in August. European semiconductor revenues jumped
6.2% to $2.37 billion vs. $2.23 billion in the previous month. Japan's
chip sales were up 1.2% to $2.03 billion in September compared to
$2.01 billion, and Asia/Pacific revenues rose 5.3% to $2.38 billion
from $2.26 billion in August, according to the report.
In comparison to a year ago, Japan's market was 27.9% lower than it
was in September 1997--$2.03 billion vs. $2.82 billion last year.
Semiconductor sales in the Americas were 12.7% lower in September
than the same month last year. European sales were down 0.4% and
Asia/Pacific market revenues were 11.4% lower, according to the SIA
report, which is based on figures from the World Semiconductor Trade
Statistics (WSTS) organization.
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