Worldwide semiconductor sales were up by 4.6% to $23.1bn in March, 2010, compared to $22bn in February, 2010, according to latest updates from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).
Sales were 58.3% higher in March 2010, compared to $14.6bn in February 2009. All monthly sales numbers represent a three-month moving average.
According to the SIA Global Sales Report, sales in Asia Pacific region rose by 72% to $12.57bn from $7.31bn in the same period last year, while sales in Japan rose by 43% to $3.59bn from $2.51bn. For Americas and Europe regions, sales rose by 48.2% and 42% to $3.82bn and $3.08bn, respectively.
Sales in all regions increased when compared to Febuary 2010. Sales in Asia Pacific region were up by 3.8%, Americas by 5.6%, Europe by 7.1% and Japan up by 4.6%.
George Scalise, president of SIA, said: “Healthy demand from major end markets coupled with restocking to normal inventory levels contributed to strong first-quarter growth. While we expect that 2010 sales will continue to be strong, the year-on-year growth rate will moderate going forward, reflecting the industry recovery that began in the second half of 2009. We do not expect to see near-term issues with either excess inventories or capacity due to strong unit demand in key end markets.
“Computing and communications, which together account for more than 60% of total demand for microchips, are seeing healthy unit growth. PC unit sales are projected to grow in the mid- to high-teens, and handset growth is expected to be in the high single-digit range. Healthy economic growth in China and growing demand for PCs and cell phones in developing economies were major contributors to growth in the first quarter.”
