KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 1): Global semiconductor sales fell 15.9% year-on-year (y-o-y) in August to RM34.2 billion from RM40.7 billion a year ago, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In a statement on its website yesterday, SIA said sales increased 2.5% month-on-month from US$33.4 billion in July.

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

SIA president and CEO John Neuffer said while worldwide semiconductor sales remain well behind the totals reached in 2018, month-to-month sales increased in two consecutive months for the first time in nearly a year,

“Sales into the Americas market were mixed, decreasing significantly year-to-year but increasing more than any other region on a month-to month basis,” he said.

SIA said regionally, sales increased on a month-to-month basis in the Americas (4.1%), Asia Pacific/All Other (3.8%), China (1.8%), and Japan (1.1%), but decreased in Europe (-0.8%).

It said on a year-to-year basis, sales were down across all regional markets: Europe (-8.6%), Asia Pacific/All Other (-9.2%), Japan (-11.5%), China (-15.7%), and the Americas (-28.8%).