Semiconductor sales were up very slightly (0.3%) in March, compared to February, at $26.1 billion, says the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). However, sales throughout Q1’16 fell 5.5% QoQ and 5.8% YoY, to $78.3 billion.
The March result was the first increase in semiconductor sales in five months. However, growth was limited by a combination of soft demand; seasonal market trends; and the state of the global economy. Q1 sales lagged as almost all markets showed a decline, with the sharpest found in the Americas.
MoM sales in March rose in Japan (4.8%), APACxJ/Others (2.3%) and Europe (0.1%), but fell in China (1.1%) and the Americas (2.8%). Compared to March 2015, sales rose in Japan (1.8%) and China (1.3%), but decreased in APACxJ/Others (6.4 %), Europe (9.8%), and the Americas (15.8%).
| Semiconductor Sales by Region, March 2016 ($ Billions) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Market | Mar-16 | Mar-15 | YoY Change |
| Americas | 4.89 | 5.81 | -15.8% |
| Europe | 2.67 | 2.96 | -9.8% |
| Japan | 2.59 | 2.55 | 1.8% |
| China | 7.93 | 7.83 | 1.3% |
| APACxJ/Other | 8.01 | 8.57 | -6.4% |
| Total | 26.09 | 27.70 | -5.8% |
| Source: SIA | |||
