KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5): Global semiconductor sales fell 0.9% year-on-year in July this year to US$27.9 billion from US$28.1 billion a year earlier, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In a statement Sept 3 on its website, the SIA said worlwide sales from July 2015 were 0.4% lower than the June 2015 total of $28.0 billion.

It said that regionally, sales in the Americas were roughly flat in July compared to last year, while sales in China increased by nearly 6%.  

All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation and represent a three-month moving average.  

SIA president and chief executive office John Neuffer said global semiconductor sales had slowed somewhat this summer in part due to softening demand, normal market cyclicality, and currency devaluation in some regional markets

“Despite these headwinds, year-to-date global sales through July are higher than at the same time last year, which was a record year for semiconductor revenues,” he said.

The SIA said that regionally, year-to-year sales increased in China (5.6%), Asia Pacific/All Other (1%), and the Americas (0.8%), but decreased in Europe (-12.5%) and Japan (-13.3%), in part due to currency devaluation.

It said that on a month-to-month basis, sales increased in Japan (2.7%), China (0.6%), and Europe (0.4%), but fell slightly in the Americas (-0.3%) and Asia Pacific/All Other (-2.5%).