To: ColtonGang who wrote (24066 ) 1/3/2001 9:27:42 AM From: ColtonGang Respond to of 24256 01/03 08:52 Semiconductor Sales Worldwide Rise 28% in November (Update1) By Holly M. Sanders San Jose, California, Jan. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Semiconductor sales rose 28 percent in November, and sales for the full year are expected to increase 37 percent, the Semiconductor Industry Association said. The association said worldwide semiconductor sales rose to $18.3 billion in November from $14.2 billion a year ago. Total sales are expected to have reached $205 billion for 2000, the report said. Sales of semiconductors used in communications and consumer products, such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants, experienced the biggest increase in demand, the association said. Chip sales in the Americas grew 30 percent to $5.6 billion and European sales rose 24 percent to $3.8 billion. Sales in Japan rose 39 percent to $4.4 billion, while sales in the Asia Pacific region rose 21 percent to $4.4 billion. The association, which represents U.S.-based chipmakers, said its report is based on a three-month moving average and uses data collected from about 70 companies. A separate report released yesterday by market researcher Dataquest Inc. said global semiconductor sales rose 31 percent in 2000, down from its previous estimate of 37 percent, and cited slowing sales of chips used in personal computers. Dataquest said the worldwide semiconductor market reached $222.1 billion in 2000, compared with $169 billion the previous year. In September, it estimated sales would reach $232 billion. Semiconductor sales growth is expected to slow this year and next year because of slowing demand for personal computers. Gateway Inc., Apple Computer Inc. and other PC makers have cut sales and profit targets for the fourth quarter and this year.