The world's chip makers sold 7.3 per cent more semiconductors in Q1 2006 than they did in Q1 2005. The first quarter of the year yielded revenues of $59.1bn, up from $55.1bn in the year-ago period, the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) revealed today.

Sales were down sequentially, but that's only to be expected given the traditional seasonality of the chip business. Q1's revenues were 1.3 per cent lower than the $59.9bn recorded for Q4 2005.

March 2006's total came to $19.7bn, up from $18.4bn a year ago and $19.6bn in February. The figures are calculated using three-month rolling averages. ®