WASHINGTON — Global semiconductor sales reached $30.5 billion in October, up 5.1% year-over-year and 3.4% sequentially, says the Semiconductor Industry Association.

All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.

Regionally, year-over-year sales increased in China (14%), Japan (7.2%), Asia Pacific/All Other (1.9%), and the Americas (0.1%), but decreased in Europe 3%. Sequentially, sales were up across all regional markets: the Americas (6.5%), China (3.2%), Japan (3%), Europe (2.2%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (2%).

A new WSTS industry forecast projects roughly flat annual semiconductor sales in 2016, followed by slight market growth in 2017 and 2018. SIA endorsed the WSTS global semiconductor sales forecast, which projects 2016 sales of $335 billion, down 0.1% year-over-year. WSTS projects a year-over-year increase in Japan (3.2%) and Asia Pacific (2.5%), with decreases expected in Europe (4.9%) and the Americas (6.5%).

Among major semiconductor product categories, WSTS forecasts growth in 2016 for sensors (22.6%), discretes (4.2%), analog (4.8%) and MOS micro ICs (2.3%), which include microprocessors and microcontrollers.

Beyond 2016, the semiconductor market is expected to grow at a modest pace across all regions. WSTS forecasts 3.3% growth globally for 2017 ($346.1 billion in total sales) and 2.3% growth for 2018 ($354 billion).

“The global semiconductor market has rebounded in recent months, with October marking the largest year-to-year sales increase since March 2015,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO, SIA. “Sales increased compared to last month across all regional markets and nearly every major semiconductor product category. Meanwhile, the latest industry forecast has been revised upward and now calls for flat annual sales in 2016 and small increases in 2017 and 2018. All told, the industry is well-positioned for a strong close to 2016.”

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