Semiconductor Industry Association Reports February 2010 Sales

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today reported that worldwide semiconductor sales in February were $22.0 billion, a decrease of 1.3 percent from January when sales were $22.3 billion. February sales grew by 56.2 percent from February 2009 when sales were $14.1 billion. All monthly sales numbers represent a three-month moving average.

"The February sales numbers reflect continued recovery of sales of semiconductors, with demand principally driven by growth in sales of electronic products in emerging economies," said SIA President George Scalise. “Unit sales of the two leading demand drivers for semiconductors" personal computers and cell phones are now projected to grow in the low- to mid-teens in 2010. While the 56 percent year-on-year growth reflected in the February sales number is encouraging, it is important to note that January and February of 2009 marked the low point for the semiconductor industry during the worldwide economic downturn.

"There are encouraging signs that the global economic recovery will continue, and we remain cautiously optimistic that there is upside potential for growth beyond our November forecast for 2010," Scalise concluded.

The SIA Global Sales Report (GSR) is a three-month moving average of sales activity. The GSR is tabulated by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization, an independent, non-profit organization established by the global semiconductor industry to compile industry statistics. The moving average is a mathematical smoothing technique that mitigates variations due to differences in companies’ financial calendars.