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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.