SAN JOSE, Nov. 26 -- Worldwide semiconductor sales grew 1.5% to $18.8 billion in October, said the SIA today. October's sales were up 22% over a year ago.
The rise reflected "ongoing inventory corrections in
certain market segments," said SIA president George Scalise in a press
statement.
SIA guided for fourth-quarter sales to be flat sequentially. The trade group projects year-on-year growth of at least 28%.
October sales of DSPs rose 8.5% sequentially, a sign that
the inventory correction that began in the wireless handset market in
July has run its course, said Scalise.
PC sales, which historically peak in the fourth quarter,
have been further buoyed by corporate demand, SIA said. Microprocessors
were up 6.4% sequentially and DRAMs were up 2.8%, signs that the supply
chain has shed its excess inventories for those chips, SIA said.
"Sales of consumer electronics are especially strong in the fourth quarter as the holiday build continues," said Scalise.
Capacity utilization declined two points in
the third quarter, to 93%. Sales in all geographic regions except Japan
were up sequentially in October.
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