KUALA LUMPUR (March 2): Global semiconductor industry sales rose 13.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) in January to US$40 billion from US$35.3 billion a year earlier, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In a statement on its website yesterday, the SIA said the figure was 1% more than the December 2020 total of US$39.6 billion.

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

SIA president and chief executive officer (CEO) John Neuffer said global semiconductor sales got off to a strong start in 2021, increasing both y-o-y and month-on-month (m-o-m) in January.

“Global semiconductor production is on the rise to meet increasing demand and ease the ongoing chip shortage affecting the auto sector and others, and annual sales are projected to increase in 2021,” he said.

The SIA said regionally, y-o-y sales increased across all markets: Asia-Pacific/all others (16%), the Americas (15.4%), China (12.4%), Japan (9.6%) and Europe (6.4%).

It said m-o-m sales increased in China (3.4%), Europe (2%) and Asia-Pacific/all others (1.5%), but were down in Japan (-1%) and the Americas (-3%).