Chip industry to grow 4.6%
Economic slowdown in the U.S. has not hurt semiconductor sales so far.
By Jim Carbone -- Purchasing, 6/3/2008 8:28:00 PM
Worldwide semiconductor revenue will reach $286.5 billion in 2008, a 4.6% increase from 2007 revenue of $273.9 billion, according to the latest forecast by researcher Gartner Inc. Gartner has slightly increased its growth rate from February when it forecast a 3.4% increase for 2008.
Gartner had assumed that the slowdown in the U.S. economy would reduce demand for electronics equipment and result in weaker demand for semiconductors as well, says Richard Gordon, research vice president at Gartner.
“However, while we are still forecasting low single-digit growth for the semiconductor market in 2008, this has more to do with supply-side factors than weakness in demand,” he says.
In the first quarter, global sales of semiconductors were seasonally normal, buoyed by healthy PC and cell phone unit production. Gartner analysts said there have been no signs of a significant slowdown in the markets for digital consumer electronics products and automotive electronics.
“Guidance from electronics and semiconductor vendors about the forecast level of sales in the second quarter of 2008 suggests that they are not expecting market conditions to worsen,” says Gordon.
Also see:
Chip sales revenues up in first quarter
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