Semiconductor Sales Soar Sustainedly

Article By : Dylan McGrath, EE Times

May 2018 sees more chip sale records being crushed, as industry streak hits 14 months of growth

SAN FRANCISCO — Semiconductor sales once again set a new alltime high in May, growing by more than 20 percent for the 14th straight month, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) trade group.

The three-month average of chip sales for May reached $38.7 billion, up 3 percent from April and up 21 percent compared with May 2017, according to the SIA, which reports numbers compiled by World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, an industry group made up of more than 55 semiconductor companies that pool sales data.

“The global semiconductor market has posted consistent growth of greater than 20 percent for 14 consecutive months, and May 2018 marked the industry’s highest-ever monthly sales,” said John Neuffer, the SIA’s president and CEO, in a press statement.

Neuffer said the growth was once again led by the America region, which posted a 31.6 percent year-to-year increase in sales. China, which increased sales by 28.5 percent, was also strong, as all major regions posted growth on an annual basis, according to the WSTS.

Sales also increased on a month-to-month basis in all regions, the SIA said.

May 2018 semiconductor sales (in billions of dollars). Source: SIA, WSTS

May 2018 semiconductor sales (in billions of dollars).
Source: SIA, WSTS

— Dylan McGrath is the editor-in-chief of EE Times.

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