Global semiconductors sales rise 5 per cent in August

Global sales of semiconductors rose 5 per cent in August compared to July, but fell16.1 per cent compared to the same month a year ago, according to an industry report released yesterday

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said that worldwide sales of semiconductors in August were $19.1 billion, July's sales were $18.2 billion and August 2008 sales were $22.7 billion.

Sales were up sequentially in all geographic regions. Year-to-date sales through August are down 21.3 per cent to $133.8 billion from $170.1 billion at this time last year. The rate of decline has slowed from the first six months of 2009 during which sales declined by 25 per cent year-on-year.

''Continuing recovery of consumer spending led the sixth-consecutive month of sequential growth in semiconductor sales,'' said SIA president George Scalise.

''Various incentive programs for energy-efficient products, ranging from automobiles to home appliances, have bolstered demand for semiconductors, which deliver critical enabling technology for reducing energy consumption, he added.

Growing sales of netbook personal computers, which now account for approximately 17 per cent of notebook PC unit sales, have created an important new market segment, filling a gap between 'smart cell phones' and conventional laptop PCs.