Demand for personal computers (PCs) is up again after the longest sustained downturn in the market with the introduction of the tablet, according to Econometric Semiconductor Forecast (ESF).

"The worldwide PC supply chain appears to be healthy, with inventory levels appropriate in anticipation of the fourth quarter retail cycles," Intel reported recently, along with higher than expected third quarter results. Intel also indicated the demand for chips is in good shape. This is excellent news for suppliers of electronic chemicals and materials used in microprocessors, computer chipsets and DRAM, which are all used in PCs.

As predicted by the ESF in the spring of 2014, the global slump in PC demand has ended, with stronger expectations for PCs ahead.

Overall PC demand has a significant impact on the overall demand for many types of chips, which in turn drive overall silicon demand. This is one of the key points of analysis in the ESF.

The ESF has a very high correlation of about 2 per cent for forecasts of a half year out or more, and is one of the most accurate predictors of electronics chemicals and materials demand with a very high correlation for the overall wafer fab materials market as shown the chart below from the ESF.

By: DocMemory
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