This is nearly $3 billion ahead of the $17.82 billion three-month average announced by the SIA  and up 40.3 percent from the 'actual' sales in June 2003. This strong growth compared to 'actual' year-on-year sales growth in May 2004 of 39.1 percent and therefore indicates that not only was the market growing in June but that its rate of growth was still increasing.

The SIA and other regional industry groups publicize sales statistics gathered by World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) as the three-month moving averages of monthly sales activity rather than the actual numbers. The SIA calculates averages to smooth out variations due to companies' sales reporting calendars, which often make March, June, September and December five-week months thereby inflating those month's numbers.

Chip sales in the first half of 2004 were $102.16 billion up 36.2 percent on the $74.99 billion recorded in the first half of 2003.

The Asia Pacific region's 'actual' sales figure of $8.79 billion in June was 58.4 percent ahead of sales of $5.55 billion in June 2003. In June 2004 Japan recorded $4.29 billion of sales, the Americas region $4.02 billion and Europe was responsible for $3.61 billion.

Asia-Pacific region is more than double the size of any other geographic market and approached half the world market in June being responsible for 43.8 percent of all sales worldwide.