Computer chip sales rise 6.7 percent in March
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 5 (Reuters) - Worldwide semiconductor
sales rose to $11.16 billion in March, up 6.7 percent from a
year earlier, a trade association said on Wednesday, helped by
a strong rebound in Asian sales.
The Semiconductor Industry Association said worldwide sales
of semiconductors rose to $11.16 billion in March, up 6.7
percent from $10.46 billion a year earlier, and a gain of 2.4
percent over February of this year.
"This month's numbers show signs of continued industry
growth and a rebounding Asian Pacific market," said George
Scalise, president of the trade group.
"We expect worldwide chip sales for 1999 to be in line with
our forecasted recovery," he said.
The association said its global sales report showed an
increase in all markets vs. March 1998.
Chip sales in the Americas were up 4.8 percent from a year
ago, European sales were 3.2 percent higher, sales in Japan
were up 8.1 percent and Asia Pacific gained 11.8 percent.
Compared with February of this year, chip sales in the
Americas were up 1.6 percent, Japan sales increased 5.0
percent, European sales rose 1.4 percent and Asia Pacific sales
were 2.1 percent higher.
The sales report is a three-month rolling average of sales
activity. Following is a summary chart of sales in billions of
dollars.
March 1999 Global Sales Report
Month-to-Month Sales
Market Feb 1999 Mar 1999 Percent Change
Americas 3.550 3.606 1.6
Europe 2.490 2.524 1.4
Japan 2.303 2.419 5.0
Asia Pacific 2.552 2.607 2.1
Total 10.894 11.155 2.4
Year-to-Year Monthly Sales
Market Mar 1998 Mar 1999 Change
Americas 3.441 3.606 4.8
Europe 2.447 2.524 3.2
Japan 2.238 2.419 8.1
Asia Pacific 2.330 2.607 11.8
Total 10.456 11.155 6.7
Rolling Three-Month Average Sales
Market Oct/Nov/Dec Jan/Feb/Mar 1999% Change
Americas 3.653 3.606 -1.3
Europe 2.697 2.524 -6.4
Japan 2.317 2.419 4.4
Asia Pacific 2.645 2.607 -1.4
Total 11.313 11.155 -1.4
19:36 05-05-99 |
