Chip sales continue to rise, according to the EECA

OCTOBER 2--Semiconductor sales in August stood at $11.927 billion, a 14.2% increase above the same month a year ago and up 2.2% on a monthly sequential basis, according to the European Electronic Component Manufacturers Association (EECA; Brussels, Belgium; www.eeca.org) reporting figures from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization. However, the year-to-date figure is still 7.5% below where it was at this time in 2001, the EECA reports.

The figures, which are compiled by WSTS as three-month moving monthly averages to smooth out large swings, show slight increases from WSTS figures for July. The biggest year-on-year percentage increase was achieved by the Asia-Pacific region, which purchased $4378 billion of chips up 38% on a year previously.

The Japanese market stands second at $2.754 billion, up 7.1%; the Americas region is third at $2.580, a fall of 0.8% on a year previously, according to the EECA note. European sales of semiconductors reached $2.214 billion in August, up 4.9% on a year previously.

However, the EECA observed that the exchange rate of the Euro compared to the dollar has a strong impact on the growth data turning growth into decline. Measured in Euros, European semiconductor sales in August were 2.269 billion euros, a -6.7% decline versus the same month a year ago.