LONDON – Worldwide semiconductor sales on a three-month average basis were likely $24.4 billion in August, unchanged from the $24.40 billion posted by World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization for July, according to Bruce Diesen, an analyst at Carnegie Group (Oslo, Norway).
That would make the actual worldwide semiconductor sales figure for August about $22.9 billion about 6 percent behind the equivalent figure in August 2011 whereas July's sales were up nearly 2 percent on July 2011.
Diesen said that the numbers would be down versus reasonably strong levels in July.
Diesen now reckons the 2012 chip market will be flat compared with 2011 and will show a 7 percent rise in 2013.
A consensus appears to be building around a flat to slightly down year as average selling prices for chips are hurt by reduced demand for some products in an uncertain economic climate.
In a note sent to clients Diesen included a number of indicators of softness including Chinese PC production in August down 10 percent year-on-year, weak U.S. imports of PCs in July, flat Korean chip exports in August. At the same time Vietnamese technology exports improved in August and telecommunications equipment sales are strengthening. Israel's telecom exports and U.S. telecom imports improved in August, Diesen indicated.
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