Worldwide semiconductor revenue is expected to reach $316bn in 2012, an increase of 4% from 2011, according to Gartner.
This has been revised from Gartner’s previous forecast in the fourth quarter of 2011 for 2.2% growth.
Gartner research vice president Bryan Lewis said the semiconductor industry is poised for a rebound starting in the second quarter of 2012.
"The inventory correction is expected to conclude this quarter, foundry utilization rates are bottoming, and the economic outlook is stabilizing," said Lewis.
The DRAM market is expected to show a revenue increase of 0.9% from 2011.
DRAM prices fell about 50% in 2011 and Gartner analysts expect pricing to rebound in part due to Elpida filing bankruptcy protection.
NAND flash memory’s revenue is forecast to grow 18% over 2011 in 2012, owing to an increase in mobile consumer devices and solid-state drives.
Media tablet unit production is forecast to increase 78% over 2011, and semiconductor revenue from media tablets will reach $9.5bn in 2012, according to the research firm.
PC unit production in 2012 is estimated to increase by 4.7% percent and semiconductor revenue from PCs will reach $57.8bn.
Mobile phone unit production is expected to grow 6.7%, with semiconductor revenue for mobile phones grossing $57.2bn in 2012.
Lewis said, "Gartner’s 2012 semiconductor forecast of 4 percent growth assumes the European debt issues stay contained, Iran/Israel tensions stay in check, and solid growth from China."
