The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $83.1 billion during the first quarter of 2015, an increase of 6.0 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014. Global sales for the month of March 2015 were $27.7 billion, 6.0 percent higher than the March 2014 total of $26.1 billion and 0.1 percent lower than last month’s total. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.

“Despite macroeconomic challenges, first quarter global semiconductor sales are higher than they were last year, which was a record year for semiconductor revenue,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. “The Americas region posted its sixth straight month of double-digit, year-to-year growth to lead all regional markets, and DRAM and analog products continue to be key drivers of global sales growth.”

Regionally, sales were up compared to last month in Asia Pacific/All Other (3.1 percent), Europe (2.7 percent), and China (1.0 percent), which is broken out as a separate country in the sales data for the first time. Japan(-0.4 percent) and the Americas (-6.9 percent) both saw sales decrease compared to last month. Compared to March 2014, sales increased in the Americas (14.2 percent), China (13.3 percent), and Asia Pacific/All Other (3.8 percent), but decreased in Europe (-4.0 percent) and Japan (-9.6 percent).

“Congress is considering a legislative initiative called Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) that would help promote continued growth in the semiconductor sector and throughout the U.S. economy,” Neuffer continued. “Free trade is vital to the U.S. semiconductor industry. In 2014, U.S. semiconductor company sales totaled $173 billion, representing over half the global market, and 82 percent of those sales were to customers outside the United States. TPA paves the way for free trade, and Congress should swiftly enact it.”

About SIA