SAN JOSE, Calif. --- Global semiconductor sales were $12.5 billion in December 2002, bringing total revenue for the year to $140.7 billion, a 1.3% increase from the 2001 level of $138.9 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). The organization predicted a 19.8% growth year in 2003 but also observed that geographically, a 2002 boom in the Asia Pacific region only just compensated for continuing declines in the Americas, Japan and Europe.
According to the SIA's Global Sales Report (GSR) revenue rose during the year's final quarter by 1.9% sequentially to $37.6 billion, up from $36.9 billion, following increases of 5.6%, 5.8% and 8.2% in the first three quarters of 2002, and was up 23% over the corresponding quarter of 2001.
The numbers are three-month moving averages of sales activity intended to smooth the peaks and troughs that might otherwise be seen due to companies' monthly financial calendars. The GSR is tabulated by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization.
"The recovery that began in the final quarter of 2001 continued throughout 2002, producing 1.3% growth in this turnaround year," stated George Scalise, president of the SIA, in a statement.
"This is remarkable performance, in the face of lackluster demand in the information technology market. We expect further improvement across broad product sectors, positioning the industry for 19.8% growth in 2003, increasing revenues to $169.3 billion."
In 2002 the wireless sector recorded the most vigorous growth with unit sales of handsets up by double-digits in the fourth quarter, producing growth of 13.2% in flash and 6.8% in DSPs, the SIA said. New subscribers continue to set records in Asia, particularly in China, which is adding some 5 million new users each month.
At the same time the PCs continue to be the single largest end market for semiconductors, accounting for 30% of total chip consumption. Although chips for the PC market experienced slow demand in 2002 the SIA said there was evidence that the corporate buyer is returning to the market. During the December quarter due to increased PC demand, microprocessor and DRAM sales were up 10.1% and 7.6% respectively.
"We expect the momentum built throughout 2002 in both cell phones and PCs to increase in 2003," stated Scalise. "As a result, for the first time since 2000, we believe IT spending on hardware will register an increase."
The consumer sector, including DVD's and digital cameras and wireless LAN products was another growth driver for semiconductors.
Geographically it was boom growth in Asia Pacific region that almost exactly compensated for declining sales elsewhere. The SIA ascribes this geographical dichotomy to the migration of electronic equipment manufacture to facilities in the Asia Pacific region.
For the year 2002, chip sales declined 13% in the Americas, 8% in Japan and 8% in Europe from 2001 levels.
RSS
Digital
10 emerging technologies to watch:
EE Times has compiled a list of emerging technologies that we think will be worth watching out for in 2010. Biofeedback or thought-control of electronics are among the contenders.
10 CEOs out in 2009:
It's been a tough year for the global electronics industry and CEOs. We survey the dismissal of 10 industry CEOs during the first three quarters of 2009 and what's ahead for the rest of the year.
Executive pay:
The economy stinks. Rank-and-file engineers are feeling the pain. What about technology CEOs? We crunched the numbers buried in corporate financial statements to find out. Here's what we found.
10 companies in trouble (revisited):
What follows is an updated version of 10 companies in trouble. Some companies have been removed since the last version, others remain. Still others have been added to the mix.
Early predictions for 2010:
The electronics industry is recovering, but there is still some uncertainty in the market. Some see a boom year in 2010. Some see a double dip. So what's in store for the rest of this year and 2010?
Top 10 IC vendors with cash:
The world's biggest IC companies by revenue rank not only among the best in their respective industry segments but are also more likely to have huge piles of cash that can be used to fund acquisitions, R&D and product development.
Notable women in microelectronics:
There is no better time than a global economic recession to examine the keys to successful corporate governance. So, EE Times has compiled an international list that celebrates women who are business and technology leaders in semis.
EE Times updates Silicon 60:
Seventeen companies have been added to the lastest version of our Silicon 60 list of emerging startups. Forty-three companies survived as emerging companies that are still worth watching.
RSS| 
Digital| 
Mobile
