Gartner: Worldwide semiconductor market to experience 8% growth in 2003

May 20, 2003 – Stamford, CT – Following a relatively strong 1Q03 bolstered by better-than-expected semiconductor sales in March, the worldwide semiconductor market is forecast to grow 8.3% in 2003, with revenue totaling $168 billion, up from $152 billion in 2002, according to Gartner Inc.

In 1Q03, Gartner said the worldwide semiconductor market would grow 8.9% in 2003.

“With quarterly sequential growth at about negative 3.5% in 1Q03, but likely to turn mildly positive in the second quarter, it appears that the industry is capable of growing in the high single digits this year,” said Richard Gordon, research VP for Gartner’s semiconductor research group. “However, even though some of the geopolitical uncertainty that has been dogging the global macroeconomic environment receded with the end of the war in Iraq, and with the SARS outbreak seemingly more under control, indications about the level of demand for semiconductors in 2H03 remain stubbornly elusive.”

Gartner analysts said that businesses are not yet feeling confident enough to make the decision to invest putting a cautious outlook on the onset of the long-awaited corporate PC replacement cycle.

Digital cellular handsets, flat-panel displays, and digital video consumer products are expected to have strong growth in 2003. The cellular phone handset application continues to prop up the semiconductor industry, driving above-average device market growth for memories, digital signal processor-based ICs and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. Strong growth is also expected in the liquid crystal display (LCD) driver market and in application-specific devices for consumer electronics.

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