The worldwide semiconductor market is forecast by the US Semiconductor Industry Association to reach $58,300m by the end of 1992 and grow to $77,400m by 1995, which called in World Semiconductor Trade Statistics Inc to draw up the forecast. The 1992 projections represent a Japanese-led slowdown in growth in the world market to 6.8% compared with 8.1% in 1991. The report projects that worldwide semiconductor shipments should increase by 13.4% to $66,200m in 1993 and add another 8.6% in 1994. The US market is seen growing by 10.6% to $17,000m this year and to reach $22,700m in 1995. The Western European market, with $10,100m in shipments in 1991, will grow a modest 7.7% this year to $10,900m and $14,000m in 1995. The Japanese market – the world’s biggest at present, with $20,900m in shipments in 1991, is seen dipping by 1% this year to put a brak on world growth, before resuming its climb to hit $26,700m in 1995. The Asia Pacific market, including Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia is expected to show a marked contrast to beleaguered Japan, soaring 18.7% to $9,700m this year and to reach $13,900m in 1995. Within the catch-all semiconductor grouping, the worldwide integrated circuit market, which stood at $44,600m in 1991, should grow 7.9% to $48,200m this year and to reach $65,400m in 1995 – but CMOS continues to eat into the share of bipolar, which is expected to show a decline between now and 1995. The market for discrete devices, including optoelectronics, is expected to increase 1.9% to $10,200m this year. The report is available from the Semiconductor Industry Association in San Jose at $100.
