See also: TSMC calls the upturn
The US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has followed the worldwide silicon foundry industry in calling an upturn to the semiconductor market with a rebound in sales next year.
'The semiconductor showed early signs of recovery in April, thanks to improved demand for PCs and phones', said the Worldwide sales of semiconductors totaled 15.6 billion dollars in April compared with 20.9 billion dollars in April 2008 and 14.7 billion dollars last month, the SIA said.
March sales of 14.7 billion dollars were a 3.3 percent improvement on February sales of 14.2 billion dollars.
"Two consecutive months of sequential sales growth may be an indication of a return to more normal seasonal sales patterns in some market sectors, albeit at lower sales levels than last year," SIA president George Scalise said.
- Worldwide sales of semiconductors totalled $15.6bn in April compared with $20.9bn in April 2008 and $14.7bn last month.
- March's figure of $14.7bn was a 3.3 percent improvement on February sales of $14.2bn.
- "Two consecutive months of sequential sales growth may be an indication of a return to more normal seasonal sales patterns in some market sectors, albeit at lower sales levels than last year," said SIA CEO George Scalise.
- The SIA now expects worldwide semiconductor sales to fall 21.3% in 2009 to $195.6 billion from $248.6 billion in 2008.
- The SIA expects sales to 'rebound' in 2010, with year-on-year growth of 6.5% to $208.3 billion.
- For 2011 the group is predicting another 6.5% rise in sales to $221.9 billion.
- In April, IC sales grew 6.4% sequentially to $14.7 billion, but had still declined 25% year-on-year.
The better-than expected result showed that vendors were replenishing their inventory after the recession-fuelled decline, said the SIA.
"Consensus forecasts currently project that cell phone unit sales decline by around 7% compared to earlier forecasts of 15%," said Scalise, "PC unit sales will decline by about 6% compared to earlier forecasts of a decline in the range of 12%."
Scalise is cautious: "Visibility remains limited," he said.