Wireless drives chip growth

Despite the gloom over vast swathes of the tech industry, the chip sector was given something to smile about on Friday when the Semiconductor Industry Association released its third quarter figures.

Total sales in September were $12.29bn, up 3% on the previous month and 20.6% on the year. On a three month moving average basis, which the SIA sees as the most reliable indicator, sales were up 8.2% sequentially.

The figures prompted SIA president George Scalise to state that, "The recovery of the semiconductor industry has picked up breadth and strength as the year has progressed." He said the 8.2% growth in the third quarter compared to 5.6% sequential growth in the first quarter and 5.8% in the second quarter.

However, the slower growth at the end of the quarter has prompted worries that growth may slow in the fourth quarter.

The wireless market was a key sales driver, as new consumers go mobile in Asian markets. Consumer applications also buoyed the market. Despite gloom in the PC industry over a less than stellar back to school season, sales of DRAMs were up 4.9%, microprocessors were up 4.6% and peripherals were up 12%.

By region, the Americas showed the slowest growth, increasing 2% sequentially and 8% year on year to $2.63bn. European sales were $2.32bn, up 4.6% sequentially and 10.6% year on year. Japan grew 2.7% sequentially to $2.83bn, or 17.3% sequentially, while Asia Pacific, at $4.51bn, was up 3.1% sequentially and 39.1% year on year.

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