Global semiconductor revenue continued to surge in March, with the three-month moving average of sales increasing more than 18 percent year-over-year for the first time since October 2010, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) trade group.

Through the first three months of the year, the semiconductor industry is well ahead of its 2016 pace. First quarter chip sales totaled $92.6 billion, also an increase of 18.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2016, the SIA said. Sequentially, first quarter sales were down slightly compared to the seasonally strong fourth quarter, according to the SIA.

The three-month average sales total for March, $30.9 billion, was also up 1.6 percent compared to February, according to the SIA.

"The 'supercharged' IC market is really being propelled by the DRAM and NAND flash markets, which were up 69 percent and 41 percent, respectively, year over year," said Bill McClean, president of market watcher IC Insights Inc., in an email exchange with EE Times. McClean referenced the actual semiconductor sales total for the first quarter, as opposed to the three-month moving average, which was up 20 percent compared with the first quarter of 2016.

"All major semiconductor product categories also experienced year-to-year growth, with memory products continuing to lead the way," said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO, in a press statement.

According to McClean, first quarter sales growth excluding DRAM and NAND flash was just 9 percent. "While still a relatively strong number, that is less than half the 20 percent rate when including those markets," McClean said.

By: DocMemory
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