Global semiconductor sales pick up momentum

The semiconductor industry is showing signs of recovery as global chip sales rose 3.7 per cent in June from May with manufacturers managing to ship $51.7 billion worth of computer chips in the second quarter, registering the fourth consecutive monthly increase.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said yesterday that worldwide sales of semiconductors for the second quarter of 2009 were $51.7 billion, a 17-per cent increase from the first quarter when sales were $44.2 billion.

Second-quarter sales declined by 20 per cent from the $64.7 billion recorded in the like period of 2008. Worldwide sales in June were $17.2 billion, an increase of 3.7 per cent from May when sales were $16.6 billion, but 20 per cent lower than the $21.6 billion reported for June 2008.

Year-to-date sales of $95.9 billion were 25 per cent below the first six months of 2008, when sales were $127.5 billion. All monthly sales numbers represent a three-month moving average of global semiconductor sales.

''The fourth-consecutive monthly increase in sales is one indicator the industry is returning to normal seasonal growth patterns,'' said SIA President George Scalise.

Scalise said focused supply chain management by both producers and customers helped to moderate the impact of the global economic recession on the industry. ''Inventories have been closely managed, encouraging us to believe that the sequential increase in quarterly sales represents a gradual recovery of demand.''