SIA: Global semiconductor sales gain momentum in May
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $24.70 billion for the month of May 2013. This is an increase of 4.6 percent from the previous month when sales were $23.62 billion.
This is the largest sequential monthly increase in sales for the industry since March 2010.
Global sales in May 2013 were 1.3 percent higher than the May 2012 totalling $24.40 billion, and year-to-date sales in 2013 are 1.5 percent higher than they were at the same point in 2012.
All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation and represent a three-month moving average.
"May was an unambiguously strong month for the global semiconductor industry, with growth across all regions and particularly encouraging increases in the Americas and Asia Pacific," says Brian Toohey, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. "Sales have remained ahead of last year's pace throughout 2013, indicating the increasing resiliency of the market."
Regionally, sales in May increased compared to April in Asia Pacific by 5.9 percent, in the Americas by 5.6 percent. Growth in other regions was modest to say the least; in Japan sales grew by 0.8 percent, and in Europe by 0.3 percent. But this is all good news; it is the first time since September 2012 that all four regions have seen sequential monthly growth.
Compared to the same month in 2012, sales in May 2013 increased in the Asia Pacific by 5.8 percent, in the Americas by 3.0 percent, and in Europe by a miniscule 0.1 percent. In Japan, sales fell sharply by a whopping 18.4 percent, largely because of the devaluation of the Japanese yen.
The table below shows month-to-month and year-to year sales by region compiled by the SIA based on a three-month moving average.
"Building on the semiconductor industry's recent momentum will require enacting federal policies that embrace innovation and foster growth," continues Toohey. "The Senate's recent approval of comprehensive immigration reform legislation is a significant step forward. The House should follow suit and promptly approve legislation to fix America's outdated high-skilled immigration system."