Global semiconductor sales up 20% YoY in April

Monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation and represent a three-month moving average. Additionally, a newly released WSTS industry forecast projects annual global market growth of 12.4% in 2018 and 4.4% in 2019. "The global semiconductor industry has posted consistently strong sales so far in 2018, and the global market has now experienced year-to-year growth of greater than 20 percent for 13 consecutive months," said John Neuffer, president and CEO, Semiconductor Industry Association, in a press release. "Although boosted in part by impressive growth in the memory market, sales of non-memory products also grew by double digits in April on a year-to-year basis, and all major regional markets posted double-digit year-to-year gains. The global market is projected to experience significant annual growth this year, with more modest growth expected next year," Neuffer continued. Regionally, year-to-year sales increased in the Americas (34.1%), China (22.1%), Europe (21.4%), Japan (14.6%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (10.2%). Compared with last month, sales were up in China (3.2%), Japan (2.7%), Europe (1.4%), and the Americas (0.8%), but down slightly in Asia Pacific/All Other (-0.8%). Additionally, SIA has endorsed the WSTS Spring 2018 global semiconductor sales forecast, which projects the industry's worldwide sales will be USD 463.4 billion in 2018. This would mark the industry's highest-ever annual sales, a 12.4% increase from the 2017 sales total.