A 19.7% rise in September semiconductor shipments means that 2009 will see only a 10 per cent decline overall, Q4 sales will see a 6.4% rise, and next year will see a minimum 22% rise, according to Europe's leading semiconductor analysts Future Horizons.
"We now have 2009 pegged at only a 10 percent decline, a long way off from the minus 28 percent number we were 
staring in the face this time last year", says Future Horizons.
Plugging this new base line into our 2010 forecast increases the growth outlook to at least 22 percent. If Q4 continues the Q2/Q3 momentum, this could even go much higher still.
See also: Mannerisms, 
the blog of David Manners
"This is not wishful thinking", says Penn, "the market recovery has now broken through its escape velocity. Only a global economic disaster of cataclysmic proportions can now derail the chip recovery dynamics."
So, asks Future Horizons: "Why is it that everyone seems absolutely convinced that 22% growth for 2010 is simply not possible, expecting instead something in the 10 to 16 percent range?"
"The reasoning is usually accompanied by comments along the lines 'chips are becoming cheaper' and 'there are no killer applications to drive (sustain) the recovery'," says Penn, "meaning such a strong growth forecast is a 'reflection of wishful thinking and not market reality'. We disagree! First from a forecast perspective, the difference between 16 and 22% percent growth is not so statistically significant, so what we are really looking at is two distinct forecast scenarios ... 10 to 14% (which includes the WSTS and most of the independent forecasting firms) and 16 percent plus, which at the moment comprises primarily ourselves."
"So, not only is 22 percent growth in 2010 highly achievable," concludes Penn, " it is well on the cards we will be forced to revise it UP at our January IFS2010 annual industry forecast seminar ... despite what the general industry consensus currently thinks!"