The global semiconductor industry posted sales of $335.2 billion in 2015, a slight decrease of 0.2% from the sales in 2014, which was the industry’s highest-ever sales, according to trade organization Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).
Worldwide semiconductor revenue fluctuated throughout the year with more growth in the first six months compared to the second half. Source: SIA"Despite formidable headwinds, the global semiconductor industry posted solid sales in 2015, although falling just short of the record total from 2014," says John Neuffer, president and CEO of the SIA. "Factors that limited more robust sales in 2015 include softening demand, the strength of the dollar and normal market trends and cyclicality. In spite of these challenges, modest market growth is projected for 2016."
Among the product segments that were strong last year, logic was the largest category by sales with $90.8 billion, followed by memory with $77.2 billion and micro-ICs (including microprocessor) at $61.3 billion. The fastest growing segment of the semiconductor market was optoelectronics increasing 11.3% last year. Other segments that increased sales last year include sensors and actuators, which reached $8.8 billion in sales for a 3.7% growth, NAND flash memory that rose to $28.8 billion or a 2.2% increase and analog which rose to $45.2 billion for a 1.9% increase, the SIA says.
China continued to lead the way in sales in 2015 increasing 7.7%. All other regional markets saw decreased sales compared to 2014, according to the SIA.
"The semiconductor industry is critically important to the U.S. economy and our global competitiveness," Neuffer says. He encourages Congress to enact policies in 2016 that promote growth in the semiconductor industry such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an agreement that would eliminate certain barriers to trade with countries in Asia-Pacific. Neuffer says the TPP is good for the chip industry, the tech sector, the American economy and the global economy.
Meanwhile, chip sales in the month of December 2015 reached $27.6 billion, down 4.4% compared to the previous month and 5.2% lower than sales from the same month last year. Fourth quarter sales of $82.9 billion were 5.2% lower than the total of $87.4 billion from the same quarter last year, SIA says.
