KUALA LUMPUR (April 4): Global semiconductor industry sales jumped 16.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) in February to US$46.2 billion (RM219.6 billion) from US$39.7 billion a year earlier, according to the US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

In a statement on Wednesday, the industry association, however, said the figure was 3.1% lower than the January 2024 total of US$47.6 billion.

Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation and represent a three-month moving average.

SIA president and chief executive officer John Neuffer said although month-to-month sales were down slightly, global semiconductor sales in February remained well ahead of the total from the same month last year, a continuation of the strong year-to-year growth the market has experienced since the middle of last year.

“Sales in February increased on a year-to-year basis by the largest percentage since May 2022, and market growth is projected to persist during the remainder of the year,” he said.

SIA said that regionally, year-to-year sales were up in China (28.8%), the Americas (22.0%), and Asia Pacific/All other (15.4%), but down in Europe (3.4%) and Japan (8.5%).

Month-to-month sales were down across all markets: Asia Pacific/All Other (1.3%), Europe (2.3%), Japan (2.5%), the Americas (3.9%), and China (4.3%).