Semiconductor sales leapt nearly 20% in Q3, according to the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).
"Global semiconductor sales in the third quarter were above expectations," said SIA President George Scalise, "September sales were in line with historical patterns, reflecting increased demand from end-users as they began the build for the holiday season. Unit sales of personal computers and cell phones - the two largest demand drivers for semiconductors - continue to run ahead of earlier forecasts. Meanwhile, demand for semiconductors for industrial applications - a sector that had declined sharply - showed initial signs of recovery. Sales increased in all geographic regions."
Worldwide sales of semiconductors in the quarter ended September 30 were $61.9bn, an increase of 19.7 percent from the prior quarter when sales were $51.7bn.
Q3 sales were 10.1% lower than the $68.9bn reported for Q308.
Worldwide September sales were $20.1bn, an increase of 8.2% from August when sales were $19.1bn. Across the regions, September sales were up on August sales by 6.2% in America, 8.8% in Europe, 8% in Japan, and 8.8% in Asia-Pacific.
However, America is the only region where September 2009 sales were up on September 2008 sales with a 7.8% increase.
In Europe, September 2009 sales were down 24.8% on September 2008 sales, in Japan sales were down 14.9% and, in Asia Pacific, September 09 was down 8.9% on September 08..
"Amid signs that we are in the early stages of recovery in the global economy, semiconductor sales continue to reflect normal seasonal patterns", added Scalise, "sales are running well ahead of the worst-case scenarios projected early in the year, and we are optimistic that total sales for 2009 will be better than our mid-year forecast.
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