Semis Sales to Surge, Says IC Insights

The band isn't actually playing "Happy Days are Here Again", yet they could be tuning up if the latest forecast from IC Insights is to be believed.

The US-based market research company is predicting what ir describes as a "surge" in semiconductor sales in the second half of this year. The 18 per cent growth IC Insights is predicting is based on a corresponding jump in electronic equipment sales in the second half of the year.

In the company's opinion the bottom of the market was reached in the first quarter of the year. It adds, "While the velocity of the semiconductor industry recovery is subject to debate, at least the discussion of the next few quarters will be about how much sequential growth can be expected instead of how far the market is going to fall."

Driving semiconductor sales will be a hike of 18 per cent in mobile phone sales in the second half of this year compared to the first six months and a 15 per cent increase in PC shipments.

The IC foundry market can also expect to benefit. IC Insights notes that foundry business in the second quarter almost doubled as compared to the first quarter of this year.

This should also spur the semiconductor equipment suppliers who can expect aa 28 per cent increase in their markets fortunes.

More will be revealed in the company's Mid-Term Update report. For more details go to:

http://www.icinsights.com/news/bulletins/bulletins2009/bulletin20090701.html

Comments

[Mick Elliott]

Couldn't agree more Bill. My only concern is that some of this growth is based on inventory levels being very low. In fact I'm sure that is the case. What we have to hope is that there is also some genuine underlying new business getting started which will truly kick start the market. And I've just seen a Bank of America report which suggests the semiconductor market will grow 21 per cent next year.

[Bill R.]

Let's hope that this optimistic news that IC offers will bode well for us all. Control systems integration can certainly use the help.