SAN JOSE -- Worldwide chip sales grew 7.2% to $10.75 billion in March from $10.03 billion in February, posting the highest month-to-month increase since April 1986, according to a new report released today by the Semiconductor Industry Association here.
Just like in 1986, the semiconductor industry appears to be recovering from its worst downturn in history. Compared to sales in March 2001, worldwide semiconductor revenues were 25.4% lower than $14.41 billion in the same month last year, said the SIA.
"Led by strong DRAM sales, this is a record rise in first quarter growth for the semiconductor industry," said George Scalise, president of the SIA. "The March quarter sales are another sign that the industry is rebuilding from 2001, with growth in all major geographic regions except Japan, which was flat.
"The sales increase was dominated by a record 82.4% sales rise in the DRAM market, with essentially flat sales in other product areas as forecasted," he said. "The DRAM sales are a result of increased demand and price increases from the depressed levels of 2001."
The first quarter's growth was 5.6% above Q4 of 2001, Scalise said, who added that the increase "indicates that inventory build-up has been worked through and product demand is now beginning to pick up. The outlook for the second quarter is for single digit sales growth followed by stronger growth rates in the second half of the year. As expected, the semiconductor industry should close out 2002 with modest but sustained overall growth," he said.
On a month-to-month basis, the Asia Pacific chip market led all regions in increased sales with revenues rising 10.4% to $3.76 billion in March from $3.76 billion in February, said the SIA, which uses a three-month moving average. The Asia Pacific region's sales were 9.7% higher than $3.42 billion in March 2001.
Europe's chip market grew 7.7% to $2.26 billion in March from $2.10 billion in the prior month, while Japan's sales were 5.5% higher at $2.12 billion compared to $2.01 billion in February. On a year-to-year basis, Europe's revenues for semiconductors dropped 31% from $3.28 billion in March 2001, while Japan's market was down 41% from $3.59 billion in the month last year, said the SIA report.
Semiconductor sales in the Americas were up 3.6% to $2.61 billion in March from $2.52 billion in February, said the San Jose-based trade group. Chip sales in the Americas fell 36.6% from $4.11 billion in March 2001, said the new billings report.
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