August 3, 2004 – The first half of 2004 shows a continuous increasing growth in the European semiconductor market over the first half of 2003, according to Dow Jones and Company Inc. Worldwide year-on-year growth on a three-month moving average is now already higher than 40%.

On a regional basis, this growth is still led by the Asia-Pacific region with 61%. The other three regions show about half of this growth rate.

The market in the first half of 2004 was strong for all memory products – especially for DRAM, which grew 79% over first half last year; image sensors; display drivers; and application specific IC for use in communications. It seems now very likely that the growth for the total year 2004 will be around or even slightly above 30%, said Dow Jones.

European semiconductor sales in June 2004 amounted to $3.124 billion according to WSTS, down -2.0% vs. previous month. This corresponds to a +28.9% increase compared to the same month last year. On a year-to-date basis semiconductor sales increased by +26.6% vs. the same period in 2003.

The exchange rate of the Euro compared to the $US has still a significant impact on the growth data at this time. Measured in Euro, semiconductor sales in June were EURO 2.587 billion, a decrease of -1.6% vs. previous month and an increase of +21.5% vs. the same month a year ago. On a year-to-date basis semiconductor sales increased by +13.9% vs. the same period in 2003. On a Worldwide basis, semiconductor sales in June were US$ 17.815 billion, up +2.8% vs. previous month. This results to an increase of +40.3% vs. the same month in 2003 and on a year-to-date basis to a growth of +36.4%.1