The SIA says worldwide semiconductor sales in January were $22.5bn up 0.3% December sales of $22.4 billion.
Compared to the depths of January 2009, sales were up 47.2% from the January 09 revenue figure of $15,3bn.
“Worldwide semiconductor sales in January increased significantly compared to one year ago, reflecting today’s improving business environment for the industry,” says SIA President George Scalise, “January and February of 2009 were the low point of the industry downturn as the semiconductor industry and electronics manufacturers quickly responded to the global economic recession.
“We are currently seeing strength across a range of demand drivers for semiconductors, including personal computers, cell phones, automobiles, and industrial applications,” Scalise continues.
“If the current trends continue, there is upside potential for 2010 growth above our November forecast of $242.1bn”, adds Scalise, “but a growing global economy driven by consumer purchasing will be key to sustaining these trends.”
According to US analysts iSuppli, global semiconductor revenue in 2010 will rise to $279.7bn, up 21.5% from $230.2bn in 2009.
‘This will mark the first year of double-digit percentage revenue growth for the semiconductor industry since 2006’, says iSuppli, ‘following the 11.1% decline in revenue in 2009, the strong growth in 2010 represents a major improvement in market conditions for the global semiconductor industry. Semiconductor revenue growth this year will swing by 32.6% points in the positive direction, from negative 11.1% in 2009 to positive 21.5% in 2010.’
iSuppli reckons the strongest product segments in Q1 2010 will be DRAM and NAND flash, which will grow 99.3% compared to Q109.
Chip sales to the wireless market will amount to $13.1bn in Q1, up a strong 53% from $8.6bn in the first.
