The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said that worldwide
semiconductor sales reached $20.44 billion in February 2008 - a 1.5
percent increase from February 2007 and a 4.9 percent decline from
January when the industry reported sales of $21.48 billion.
“Continued price attrition in DRAMs masked underlying strength in
global chip sales in February,” said SIA President George Scalise.
“Excluding memory products, worldwide semiconductor sales grew by
nearly 10 percent year-on-year. DRAM revenues declined by more than 40
percent year-on-year despite a 43 percent increase in unit shipments.
Average selling prices (ASPs) for DRAMs declined by nearly 60 percent
year-on-year. Total unit shipments for all semiconductor products
increased by 11.6 percent year-on-year, indicating strength in the end
markets that drive demand for microchips,” added Scalise.
“The
Asia-Pacific region, which includes China, has overtaken the U.S. as
the largest market for PCs. The Rest-of-the-World, which includes
Eastern Europe, Africa and South America, equaled the number of units
sold in the U.S. in 2007 and is poised to surpass the U.S. market in PC
unit sales this year,” said Scalise.
The SIA noted the reduction
in discretionary spending of American consumers but reiterated that
emerging markets were strong, implying an offset impact from North
America on semiconductor sales.