Year-to-date sales remain well ahead of last year's pace; WSTS forecast projects growth of 6.5 percent in 2014 and 3.3 percent in 2015

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2014 — (PRNewswire) — The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, today announced that worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $26.34 billion for the month of April 2014, an increase of 11.5 percent from the April 2013 total of $23.62 billion and a slight uptick of 0.7 percent compared to last month's total of $26.15 billion. Sales in the Americas increased 14.7 percent year-over-year in April, leading all regions. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average. Additionally, a new WSTS industry forecast projects continued growth for 2014 and 2015.  

"The global semiconductor market maintained its strong momentum in April, with year-over-year sales increasing across every region and product category," said Brian Toohey, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association. "The market remains well ahead of the pace set in 2013, which was a record year for semiconductor revenues. April marked the twelfth consecutive month that year-over-year sales have increased, and we expect that trend to continue during the remainder of 2014 and into 2015."

Regionally, sequential monthly sales increased in Asia Pacific (1.7 percent) and Japan (1.1 percent), but decreased in Europe (-0.6 percent) and the Americas (-1.6 percent). Compared to April 2013, sales increased in the Americas (14.7 percent), Asia Pacific (12.5 percent), Europe (8.2 percent), and Japan (4.4 percent – the region's largest increase in more than three years).

Additionally, SIA today endorsed the WSTS Spring 2014 global semiconductor sales forecast, which projects the industry's worldwide sales will reach $325.4 billion in 2014, a 6.5 percent increase from the 2013 sales total. This reflects a revision up from the WSTS Fall 2013 forecast, which projected 4.1 percent growth in 2014. WSTS now predicts year-over-year increases for 2014 in Asia Pacific (9.3 percent), Europe (7.9 percent), and the Americas (2.1 percent), with a slight decline projected for Japan (-1.3 percent).

Beyond 2014, the industry is expected to grow steadily and moderately across all regions, according to the WSTS forecast. WSTS predicts 3.3 percent growth globally for 2015 ($336.1 billion in total sales) and 4.3 percent growth for 2016 ($350.5 billion). WSTS tabulates its semi-annual industry forecast by convening an extensive group of global semiconductor companies that provide accurate and timely indicators of semiconductor trends. 

To find out how to purchase the WSTS Subscription Package, which includes comprehensive monthly semiconductor sales data and detailed WSTS Forecasts, please visit http://www.semiconductors.org/industry_statistics/wsts_subscription_package/.   

About SIA

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is the voice of the U.S. semiconductor industry, one of America's top export industries and a key driver of America's economic strength, national security and global competitiveness. Semiconductors – microchips that control all modern electronics – enable the systems and products that we use to work, communicate, travel, entertain, harness energy, treat illness, and make new scientific discoveries. The semiconductor industry directly employs nearly a quarter of a million people in the United States. In 2013, U.S. semiconductor company sales totaled $155 billion, and semiconductors make the global trillion dollar electronics industry possible. Founded in 1977 by five microelectronics pioneers, SIA unites companies that account for 80 percent of America's semiconductor production. Through this coalition, SIA seeks to strengthen U.S. leadership of semiconductor design and manufacturing by working with Congress, the Administration and other key industry stakeholders to encourage policies and regulations that fuel innovation, propel business and drive international competition. Learn more at www.semiconductors.org.

About WSTS

World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) is an independent non-profit organization representing the vast majority of the world semiconductor industry. The mission of WSTS is to be the respected source of semiconductor market data and forecasts. Founded in 1986, WSTS is the singular source for monthly industry shipment statistics.

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