September Semiconductor Sales Set New Records

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- TheSemiconductor Industry Association(SIA) has released its semiconductor sales figures for September 2013. They show an overall monthly gain of 3.3 percent in worldwide sales, reaching $26.97 billion, the highest monthly total ever. This represents an increase of 8.7 percent compared to September 2012.

September is the seventh straight month showing gains. "Sales of memory products have increased sharply compared to last year and continue to be a major driver of industry growth," said Brian Toohey, president and CEO of the SIA. "But we have seen encouraging growth across the board, including solid increases in demand for analog and logic products."

This sustained growth has also lead to a record quarter for the industry. The third quarter of 2013 saw sales totaling $80.92 billion, an increase of 8.4 percent over the second quarter. "The global semiconductor industry has built impressive momentum through the third quarter and is well-positioned for a strong close to 2013," said Toohey.

The largest gains came in the Americas, with an increase of 5.7 percent over the prior month and a whopping 24.3 percent over September 2012. Sales in Japan are down year-over-year, due primarily to the devaluation of the Japanese Yen.

Monthly SIA statistics represent a three-month moving average of sales figures rather than simple totals. This is because most semiconductor manufacturers use a 4-4-5-week monthly calendar each quarter. The additional week in the last month of the calendar distorts simple comparisons, creating an artificial impression of dips and spikes. The moving average filter smooths the data to avoid confusion.