Worldwide semiconductor sales in May grew 8.8 percent compared to May 2012 as revenue reached $26.86 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry (SIA). Sales in May 2014 were also 2 percent more than April when revenue totaled $26.34 billion.
Semiconductor revenue in the Americas increased 10.6 percent year-over-year in May, the association said. Chip sales in the Americas increased from $4.6 billion in May 2013 to $5 billion in May 2014. It was the 12th consecutive month of double-digit growth in the Americas, the SIA said.
“The global semiconductor market posted healthy growth throughout all regions in May, led by continued strength in the Americas,” said SIA President and CEO Brian Toohey. He added that year-over-year sales increased across nearly all semiconductor product categories with DRAM and analog products posting the most growth.
“Overall, the global market has posted growth each month for over a year, and sales are expected to increase for the foreseeable future,” Toohey said.
Year-over-year and month-over-month sales increased across all regions for the first time since August 2010. Sequential monthly sales were up 2.1 percent in Asia Pacific, 2.1 percent in Europe, 1.8 percent in the Americas, and 1.6 percent in Japan.
Compared to May 2013, sales increased in the Americas 10.6 percent; Europe, 10.1 percent; Asia Pacific, 8.6 percent, and Japan, 5.3 percent. Japan posted three straight months of year-to-year growth for the first time in nearly two years.
All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.
