KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Global semiconductor sales are on course for a new record in 2014 after sales in November rose 9.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) to US$29.7 billion from US$27.2 billion a year earlier, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In a statement on its website Jan 5, the SIA said the figure was 0.1% lower from the October 2014 total.

Meanwhile, year-to-date sales through November were 10% higher than they were at the same point in 2013, it said.

The SIA said all monthly sales numbers were compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.  
SIA President and CEO Brian Toohey said global semiconductor sales through November had matched the total from all of 2013, assuring that the industry would achieve a new record for sales in 2014.

“Demand remains strong across nearly all semiconductor product categories, and the Americas and Asia Pacific regional markets continue to post the most robust growth.

“Macroeconomic trends bode well for continued growth into 2015,” he said.

The SIA said that regionally, year-to-year sales increased in the Asia Pacific (12.3%), the Americas (11.1%), and Europe (3.4%), but decreased in Japan (-4.5%).

It said sales were up compared to the previous month in the Americas (1.8%), but decreased slightly in Asia Pacific (-0.2%), Europe (-0.7%), and Japan (-2.6%).