Global Semiconductor Sales Increase in October, Remain Above Seasonal Rate

  Global Semiconductor Sales Increase in October, Remain Above Seasonal Rate

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2012

Americas spur October growth; industry projects slight decrease in global
sales in 2012, followed by moderate growth in 2013 and 2014

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Semiconductor Industry
Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing
and design, today announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached
$25.22 billion for the month of October 2012, a 1.7 percent increase from the
prior month when sales were $24.79 billion. Monthly sales topped $25 billion
for the first time in 2012 and remained above the seasonal growth rate in
October. Total year-to-date sales in 2012 were down 3.7 percent compared to
the same time last year, but the deficit was smaller than it has been all
year. Regionally, sales increased in the Americas by 8.1 percent, marking the
region's largest sequential monthly upsurge in the last decade. All monthly
sales numbers represent a three-month moving average.  

"The global semiconductor industry has demonstrated impressive resilience this
year, despite operating in a challenging global macroeconomic environment,"
said Brian Toohey, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association.
"Sales for 2012 continue to lag behind 2011 totals, but the gap has closed in
recent months thanks largely to growth in the Americas. Sales for October were
significantly above seasonal trends, and we expect to carry this momentum into
2013 and 2014, with moderate growth projected for both years. SIA will
continue to advocate on behalf of the industry for policies that promote
growth and allow the industry to flourish."         

On a regional basis, sequential monthly sales also increased in Asia Pacific
(1.3 percent) and Europe (0.2 percent), but decreased in Japan (-3.1 percent).
In the Americas, combined sales from August through October grew sharply (15.5
percent) compared to sales from May through July. 

Additionally, SIA today endorsed the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics
(WSTS) organization's Autumn 2012 global semiconductor sales forecast, which
projects that the industry's worldwide sales will reach $290 billion in 2012 –
a 3.2 percent decrease from the 2011 sales total. WSTS projects year-over-year
declines for 2012 in all four major regions: the Americas (-4.4 percent),
Europe (-10.7 percent), Japan (-2.1 percent) and Asia Pacific (-1.4 percent).

Beyond 2012, the industry is expected to grow steadily and moderately across
all regions, according to the WSTS forecast. WSTS predicts 4.5 percent growth
globally for 2013 ($303 billion in total sales) and 5.2 percent growth for
2014 ($319 billion). WSTS tabulates its annual forecast by convening an
extensive group of global semiconductor companies that provide accurate and
timely indicators of semiconductor trends.

October 2012
Billions
Month-to-Month
Sales                              
Market                                    Last Month    Current Month % Change
Americas                                  4.43          4.79          8.1%
Europe                                    2.79          2.79          0.2%
Japan                                     3.64          3.53          -3.1%
Asia Pacific                              13.93         14.11         1.3%
Total                                     24.79         25.22         1.7%
Year-to-Year
Sales                         
Market                                    Last Year     Current Month % Change
Americas                                  4.67          4.79          2.6%
Europe                                    3.08          2.79          -9.4%
Japan                                     3.88          3.53          -9.1%
Asia Pacific                              14.17         14.11         -0.4%
Total                                     25.81         25.22         -2.3%
Three-Month-Moving Average Sales
Market                                    May/June/July Aug/Sept/Oct  % Change
Americas                                  4.14          4.79          15.5%
Europe                                    2.82          2.79          -1.0%
Japan                                     3.60          3.53          -2.0%
Asia Pacific                              13.71         14.11         2.9%
Total                                     24.27         25.22         3.9%

WSTS Forecast Summary

Autumn 2012           Amounts in US$M                 Year on Year Growth in %
                      2011    2012    2013    2014    2011   2012   2013  2014
Americas              55,197  52,771  54,727  57,345  2.8    -4.4   3.7   4.8
Europe                37,391  33,401  33,695  35,198  -1.7   -10.7  0.9   4.5
Japan                 42,903  42,018  43,424  45,354  -7.9   -2.1   3.3   4.4
Asia Pacific          164,030 161,745 171,207 180,870 2.5    -1.4   5.9   5.6
Total World - $M      299,521 289,936 303,053 318,766 0.4    -3.2   4.5   5.2
Discrete              21,387  19,303  20,351  21,540  8.0    -9.7   5.4   5.8
Semiconductors
Optoelectronics       23,092  25,989  27,775  29,477  6.4    12.5   6.9   6.1
Sensors               7,970   7,934   8,518   9,132   15.5   -0.4   7.4   7.2
Integrated Circuits   247,073 236,710 246,410 258,618 -1.1   -4.2   4.1   5.0
Analog                42,338  39,683  41,120  43,521  0.1    -6.3   3.6   5.8
Micro                 65,204  60,316  62,075  64,959  7.5    -7.5   2.9   4.6
Logic                 78,782  80,543  85,461  90,375  1.8    2.2    6.1   5.7
Memory                60,749  56,167  57,754  59,764  -12.7  -7.5   2.8   3.5
Total Products - $M   299,521 289,936 303,053 318,766 0.4    -3.2   4.5   5.2

About the SIA
The Semiconductor Industry Association, SIA, is the voice of the U.S.
semiconductor industry, one of America's top export industries and a
bellwether measurement of the U.S. economy. Semiconductor innovations form the
foundation for America's $1.1 trillion dollar technology industry affecting a
U.S. workforce of nearly 6 million. Founded in 1977 by five microelectronics
pioneers, SIA unites companies that account for 80 percent of the
semiconductor production of this country. Through this coalition SIA seeks to
strengthen U.S. leadership of semiconductor design and manufacturing by
working with Congress, the Administration and other key industry groups. The
SIA works to encourage policies and regulations that fuel innovation, propel
business and drive international competition in order to maintain a thriving
semiconductor industry in the United States. Learn more at www.sia-online.org

Media Contact
Dan Rosso
Semiconductor Industry Association
drosso@sia-online.org
202-446-1719

SOURCE Semiconductor Industry Association

Website: http://www.sia-online.org