The semiconductor industry appears to be recovering rapidly from the recession, according to the latest industry figures.
Sales in July were down 18.2 per cent on the same month last year, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
However, that compares to an average monthly fall of 25 per cent in the first six months of the year.
And the $18.2bn in July sales represented an increase of 5.3 per cent from June, when sales were $17.2bn.
“The fifth consecutive month of sequential increases in semiconductor sales reflects improving demand in the consumer sector,” said George Scalise, SIA President.
“Sales of consumer products such as netbook PCs and cell phones are supporting the modest recovery in demand that is now underway.”
Geographically, Europe was weakest in July, with sales down 23 per cent, while the Americas were strongest – sales were up 7 per cent.
Credit Suisse analysts pointed out in a note that Flash memory was performing best, with unit shipments up 10 per cent year-on-year.
“We would also note if the rest of 2009 were to follow normal seasonal trends, 2009 revenues would decline 11 per cent [year-on-year], 15 percentage points ahead of our industry model at minus 26 per cent,” they added.
Malcolm Penn of the semiconductor analysts FutureHorizons said they now expected a seasonally strong third quarter of around 12 per cent growth on the second quarter.
” At last it is now back to industry normal abnormality,” he said.
