KUALA LUMPUR: The global semiconductor industry reached a new milestone in November 2017 as sales rose 21.5% from a year ago to US$37.7bil, with the Americas region posting the greatest gains.

The US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said the November sales were up 1.6% from October’s sales of US$37.1bil as the industry was on track to achieve total sales of US$400bil for 2017.

All major regional markets posted both year-to-year and month-to-month sales increases in November, with the Americas market leading the way, based on data compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation and represent a three-month moving average.

SIA president and CEO John Neuffer said: “The global semiconductor industry reached another key milestone in November, notching its highest-ever monthly sales, and appears poised to reach US$400bil in annual sales for the first time.”

Global market growth continues to be led by sales of memory products, but sales of all other major semiconductor categories also increased both month-on-month and year-on-year in November, he said.

 
All regional markets also experienced growth in November, with the Americas continuing to post the strongest gains.

Regionally, the Americas posted a 40.2% increase in sales on-year, Europe (18.8%), China (18.5%), Asia Pacific/all others (16.2%), and Japan (10.6%). 

On a month-on-month basis, sales increased in the Americas rose 2.6%, China (2.1%), Europe (1.8%), Asia Pacific/all others (0.5%), and Japan (0.3%).