SIA: October Worldwide Chip Sales Edge Down From September
Last update: 12/3/2010 8:18:21 AM
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Global chip sales fell a mere $10 million in October from a month earlier, snapping a seven-month streak of sequential gains, as growth in Europe offset a decline in the Asia Pacific region, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association.
SIA President Brian Toohey said moderation in sequential sales growth rates will likely continue through the end of the year and "future growth will be increasingly driven by demand in developing markets where rapid adoption of semiconductor end-use products such as mobile devices and consumer electronics continues."
Chip sales were $26.32 billion in October, up 20% from a year earlier, when the economic recovery was just beginning to gain traction and companies built up inventory to prepare for the holidays.
Slowing consumer demand led research firm iSuppli to trim its global chip sales forecast for the year in September, following a number of tech companies including Intel Corp. (INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) cutting sales forecasts.
The industry faces a shifting electronics landscape -- as some researchers see PC demand dimming amid competition from smart phones and tablet computers -- as well as consumers reining in spending.
During October, global chip sales improved the most in Europe, growing 3.3%. They were flat in the Americas and down 0.9% in the Asia Pacific region, which accounts for nearly half of the total.
-By Matt Jarzemsky, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2240; matthew.jarzemsky@dowjones.com
