KUALA LUMPUR (July 4): Global sales of semiconductors jumped 22.6% year-on-year in May this year to US$31.9 billion from US$26 billion a year earlier, according to the U.S.-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In a statement on its website yesterday, SIA said sales rose 1.9% month-on-month from US$31.4 billion in April 2017.

It said year-to-year growth in May was the global market’s largest since September 2010.

It said all major regional markets notched year-to-year increases of more than 15 percent in May, and the Americas led the way with growth of 30.5%.

All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation and represent a three-month moving average.

SIA president and CEO John Neuffer said the global semiconductor market has settled into a period of significant and steady growth in 2017, with sales through May well ahead of the total from the same point last year.

“Significantly, recent market growth has been consistent across all major regional markets and semiconductor product categories, with sales of memory products continuing to lead the way,” he said.

The SIA said year-to-year sales increased across all regions: the Americas (30.5%), China (26.3%), Europe (18.3%), Asia Pacific/All Other (17.7%), and Japan (15.8%).

It said month-to-month sales increased in Europe (3.9%), the Americas (2.8%), Japan (2.3%), Asia Pacific/All Other (1.7%), and China (0.7%).