Chip sales hit a record $13.4 billion last month, spurred on by demand for mobile phones and the Internet. Worldwide sales rocketed 23 per cent on the previous October, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reported. This broke the previous record of $13.2 billion, set in November 1995, and represented a 5.6 per cent increase on September 1999. Figures were up in all four regions assessed by California-based SIA: Europe, the Americas, Japan and Asia Pacific. Europe and the Americas saw the least growth, with 10.4 per cent and 15.5 per cent respectively. Sales jumped 35.6 per cent in Asia Pacific, and 37.7 per cent in Japan. Shipments were accelerated by surging demand for mobile phones and Internet infrastructure products, SIA said. It previously reported that sales in the semiconductor industry would top $144 billion this year, and $174 billion in 2000. Growth of 20 per cent in 2001 would bring in $209 billion, with sales estimated to reach $234 billion in 2002. ® Related stories November round up -- DRAM prices on the slide Taiwan chip power house doubles sales Rising chip fab kit sales signals recovery