Computer chip sales up sharply in May over a year ago

Worldwide semiconductor sales rose 47.6 percent in May over a year ago and were 4.5 percent higher than the previous month, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said Tuesday.

The SIA said global sales of computer chips reached 24.7 billion dollars in May compared with 16.7 billion dollars in May 2009 and 23.6 billion dollars in April.

"Global sales of semiconductors in May reached a new high and remain on pace to reach the SIA forecast of 28.4 percent growth to 290.5 billion dollars in 2010," SIA president George Scalise said in a statement.

"Chip sales have been buoyed by strength in sales of personal computers, cellphones, corporate information technology, industrial applications, and autos," Scalise said.

"Emerging markets, including China and India, are fueling sales of computation and communications products," he said.

"Demand from the corporate information technology and industrial sectors that had pushed out replacement cycles during the global economic recession is beginning to come back," he added.

Scalise noted that the strong year-on-year growth rates "underscore the very depressed market conditions of the first half of 2009.

"Going forward, the year-on-year growth comparisons will reflect the industry recovery that gained momentum in the second half of last year," he said.

Semiconductor sales in the Americas rose 52.9 percent in May over a year ago and were 8.2 percent higher than in April. Chip sales in the Asia-Pacific region in May were up 50.9 percent over a year ago and 5.0 percent higher than in April.

(c) 2010 AFP