August 3 ,2009 – Semiconductor sales in 2Q09 spiked 17% in 2Q09 compared with the first quarter of the year, offering more evidence that there is — at least temporarily — some strong rebounding factors for the market.

Chip sales in June rose 3.7% from May to $17.2B, the fourth consecutive monthly increase, according to the SIA’s figures. The Japan region in particular saw a nice spike in both the month and quarterly moving average. The numbers still show significant, but improving, declines compared with a year ago (-20% 2Q09 vs. 2Q08, -20% June to June, -25% 1H09 vs. 1H08).

“Inventories have been closely managed, encouraging us to believe that the sequential increase in quarterly sales represents a gradual recovery of demand,” said SIA president George Scalise, in a statement.

The two biggest chip-using applications in terms of volume (PCs and handsets, together ~60% of semiconductor consumption) also are expected to perform better than expected, he noted — PC unit sales are now seen barely declining at all this year (-5% to flat), better than the ≥-10% or more declines anticipated earlier, while the outlook for handsets has improved from a -15% decline to -7% to -9%. Economic stimulus programs (notably in China) also have helped spur demand, he added. Cautiously, though, he noted, “the global macroeconomic environment remains the key factor in determining the timing and rate of recovery for the semiconductor industry.”