SAN FRANCISCO—Semiconductor sales improved slightly in July compared to June, but remained lower than July 2011, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) trade group.
The SIA reported Tuesday (Sept. 4) that global chip sales on a three-month moving average totaled $24.4 billion in July, up 0.2 percent from June but down 1.9 percent compared with July 2011. The year-over-year decrease was the smallest it has been since October 2011, SIA said.
"July’s sales figures offer some encouraging signs for the global semiconductor industry, but it’s clear that macroeconomic challenges are restricting stronger growth," said Brian Toohey, SIA president and CEO, in a statement. "Meanwhile, the regional outlook remains uneven. Japan has rebounded strongly from last year’s natural disaster and Asia Pacific has held steady, but Europe and the Americas have lagged."
July's sales total in Japan was up 4.2 percent from July 2011 and Asia-Pacific's chip sales grew by 1.4 percent compared to a year ago, SIA said. But sales in Europe and the Americas declined by 10 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively, compared with July 2011, SIA said.
Click on image to enlarge.On a sequential basis, July's sales grew 5.4 percent in Japan compared with June, and sales in Asia Pacific increased by 0.3 percent. Sales remained flat month-to-month in Europe and declined by 3.9 percent in the Americas.
The month-to-month increase in Japan was the strongest it has been since September 2009 and the year-over-year increase in the country was the highest since January 2011, SIA said.
SIA's chip sales figures are provided by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics Council, a provider of semiconductor industry market data with about 55 member companies.
Related stories:- June global chip sales stay soft on U.S. weakness
- A Hitchcockian nightmare: Europe falling off a cliff
- Chip market still shrinking versus 2011, says SIA
- Chip market now seen shrinking in '12
- Analysts find May was weak month for chip market
- Analyst lowers chip market forecast for 2012
- Why Intel and AMD's departure from WSTS harms the SIA and the U.S. semiconductor industry
- SIA, WSTS expect flat chip sales in 2012
- SIA: March chips sales showed sequential improvement
- Chip sales slipped 1.3% in February, says SIA
- Beyer on WSTS: 'We will fix this'
- GSA concerned over WSTS, may seek sales data role
- SIA committed to data programs, says chief
- SIA pulls plug on fab capacity report
- Intel, AMD pull out of WSTS