The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing, design, and research, today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $27.7 billion for the month of August 2015, a decrease of 0.5 percent from the previous month when sales were $27.9 billion. Global sales from August 2015 were 3.0 percent lower than the August 2014 total of $28.6 billion. Regionally, sales in the Americas increased slightly compared to last month, but were down somewhat compared to August 2014. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.

“The global semiconductor market has endured a slight softening of demand in recent months, which has combined with currency devaluation and regular market cyclicality to slow sales somewhat,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “Despite recent market sluggishness, the global industry has posted higher cumulative sales through August this year than it did through the same point last year, which was a record year for semiconductor revenues.”

Regionally, year-to-year sales increased in China (4.4 percent), but decreased in the Americas (-3.5 percent), Europe (-12.4 percent), Japan (-13.0 percent), and Asia Pacific/All Other (-2.3 percent). The sharp decreases in Europe and Japan are due in part to currency devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. On a month-to-month basis, sales increased in Japan (1.3 percent) and the Americas (1.1 percent), but fell in China (-0.3 percent), Europe (-0.6 percent), and Asia Pacific/All Other (-2.1 percent).