By Christina Bruns

WaferNews Associate Editor

Semiconductor sales worlwide rose to $10.6 billion in November, an increase of 1.6% month-over-month from the $10.44 billion posted in October.

This marks the second month in a row with sequential growth, according to the most recent Global Sales Report from the Semiconductor Industry Association, San Jose, CA.

“Our forecast released in November calls for fourth quarter sales to be 4.7% higher than the third quarter, and with two months of data now in, we are on target to meet that projection,” said George Scalise, SIA president.

On a year-to-year basis, however, the news is not so encouraging. Worldwide semiconductor sales decreased 42% from November 2000’s $18.27 billion.

Geographically, semiconductor sales in Europe rose 5.3% to $2.32 billion for November, from the $2.2 billion posted in October. Year-over-year, the region was down 39% from the $3.8 billion logged in November 2000. Asia Pacific semiconductor sales increased 2.5% to $3.46 billion from the $3.37 billion posted in the previous month. That region was down 22.2% on a yearly basis from the $4.44 billion logged in November 2000.

Semiconductor sales in the Americas were down just slightly for November, 0.5% sequentially to $2.5 billion from the $2.51 billion posted in October. That figure is down 55% from the $5.6 billion logged during the same period last year. Japan fell 1% month-over-month to $2.32 billion from the $2.35 billion logged in October. On a yearly basis, the region declined 47.5% from November 2000’s $4.43 billion.

“Personal computers, wireless communications, consumer products, and automotive continue to fuel semiconductor sales and lead the industry out of its yearlong recession,” Scalise added.