July 4, 2012 — Worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $24.4 billion for the month of May 2012, a 1.4% increase over April’s sales of $24.1 billion, reports the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).
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| Figure. Worldwide Semiconductor Revenues. SOURCE: WSTS and SIA. |
Combined global sales for the March-April-May period increased over December-January-February by the highest rate (6.4%) since June 2010. Additionally, May marked the third consecutive month that sales have grown over the previous month — the longest streak of sequential monthly growth since September 2010. However, sales from May 2012 were 3.4% lower than the May 2011 total of $25.2 billion, and 2012 year-to-date sales were lower across all regions than at this time last year. All monthly sales numbers represent a three-month moving average.
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Tables. May 2012 Semiconductor Sales |
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Month-to-Month Sales ($B) |
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Market |
Last Month |
Current Month |
% Change |
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Americas |
4.56 |
4.48 |
-1.8% |
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Europe |
2.82 |
2.84 |
0.8% |
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Japan |
3.38 |
3.35 |
-0.6% |
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Asia Pacific |
13.31 |
13.71 |
3.1% |
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Total |
24.07 |
24.39 |
1.4% |
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Year-to-Year Sales ($B) |
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Market |
Last Year |
Current Month |
% Change |
|
Americas |
4.63 |
4.48 |
-3.2% |
|
Europe |
3.29 |
2.84 |
-13.6% |
|
Japan |
3.34 |
3.35 |
0.4% |
|
Asia Pacific |
13.98 |
13.71 |
-1.9% |
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Total |
25.24 |
24.39 |
-3.4% |
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Three-Month-Moving Average Sales ($B) |
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Market |
Dec/Jan/Feb |
Mar/Apr/May |
% Change |
|
Americas |
4.41 |
4.48 |
1.6% |
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Europe |
2.72 |
2.84 |
4.4% |
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Japan |
3.38 |
3.35 |
-0.7% |
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Asia Pacific |
12.41 |
13.71 |
10.5% |
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Total |
22.92 |
24.39 |
6.4% |
“The upward trend of global semiconductor sales is encouraging,” said Brian Toohey, president & CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “Recent sales totals are in line with industry projections of modest growth for the remainder of 2012, but a sluggish global economy continues to provide substantial headwinds, limiting more robust growth.”
Regionally, semiconductor sales increased in Asia Pacific (10.5%), Europe (4.4%) and the Americas (1.6%) over a three-month moving average, but fell slightly in Japan (-0.7%). However, Japan realized an increase in sales from May 2011 to May 2012 (0.4%), while Asia Pacific (-1.9%), the Americas (-3.2%) and Europe (-13.6%) all saw year-to-year decreases.
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) represents the US semiconductor industry. Learn more at www.sia-online.org.