KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): Global sales of semiconductors rose 9.8% year-on-year to US$41.4 billion in November last year from US$37.7 billion a year earlier, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In a statement on its website Dec 31, SIA said the figure was 1.1% lower than the October 2018 total of US$41.8 billion.

Monthly sales are 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 continues to post solid year-to-year sales increases, and year-to-date revenue through November has surpassed annual sales from all of 2017, but growth has slowed somewhat in recent months.

“Year-to-year sales increased in November across all major regional markets, with the China market standing out with growth of 17%.

“Double-digit annual growth is expected for 2018 once December’s sales are tallied, with more modest growth projected for 2019,” he said.

SIA said that regionally, year-to-year sales increased in China (17.4%), the Americas (8.8%), Europe (5.8%), Japan (5.6%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (4.4%).

It said compared with last month, sales were up in Asia Pacific/All Other (1.1%), Europe (0.5%), and Japan (0.4%), but down slightly in the Americas (-2.2%) and China (-2.7%).