Global semicon sales to grow at modest pace in 2017 and 2018

Global semiconductor sales are expected to grow at a modest pace in all the regions in 2017 and 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Global semiconductor sales are expected to grow at a modest pace in all the regions in 2017 and 2018 after flat annual sales projected for this year, says the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

It said on Monday that a new World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) forecast showed that global sales were expected to be US$335bil in 2016, down 0.1% from the 2015 sales.

Beyond 2016, the industry was expected to record a 3.3% growth globally for 2017 (US$346.1bil in total sales) and 2.3% growth for 2018 (US$354.0bil).

For October 2016, worldwide sales of semiconductors reached US$30.5bil, up 3.4% from the previous month’s total of US$29.5bil. The sales were 5.1% higher than October 2015’s US$29bil. 

SIA president and CEO John Neuffer said the global semiconductor market has rebounded in recent months, with October marking the largest year-to-year sales increase since March 2015.

“Sales increased compared to last month across all regional markets and nearly every major semiconductor product category. 

“Meanwhile, the latest industry forecast has been revised upward and now calls for flat annual sales in 2016 and small increases in 2017 and 2018. All told, the industry is well-positioned for a strong close to 2016,” he said. 

In October, regionally, year-on-year sales increased in China (14%), Japan (7.2%), Asia Pacific/All Other (1.9%), and the Americas (0.1%), but decreased in Europe (-3%). 

Compared with September, sales were up across all regional markets: the Americas (6.5%), China (3.2%), Japan (3.0%), Europe (2.2%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (2.0%).

The SIA also endorsed the WSTS Autumn 2016 global semiconductor sales forecast, which projects the industry’s worldwide sales will be US$335bil in 2016, a 0.1% decrease from the 2015 sales total. 

WSTS projects a year-to-year increase in Japan (3.2%) and Asia Pacific (2.5%), with decreases expected in Europe (-4.9%) and the Americas (-6.5%). 

Among major semiconductor product categories, WSTS forecasts growth in 2016 for sensors (22.6%), discretes (4.2%), analog (4.8%) and MOS micro ICs (2.3%), which include microprocessors and microcontrollers.