LONDON – Revenues for semiconductors in the industrial sector exceeded those in the automotive sector for the first time in 2008, says Semicast Research.

Semicast estimates industrial semiconductor revenues grew to $22.1 billion last year, up almost 11% compared to 2007.

The worldwide automotive semiconductor market is estimated to have fallen about 5% in 2008, and with car manufacturing plants on extended shutdown and consumer confidence still low, a further fall in 2009 looks certain, according to the research firm.

The industrial semiconductor market continues to have no clear No. 1 supplier; Infineon Technologies and STMicroelectronics again competed for the position, says Semicast.

With less than one percentage point of market share between them, Semicast judges Infineon to have recorded fractionally higher sales in industrial, with the euro-to-dollar exchange rate playing a decisive role.

Semicast predicts another fierce battle between Infineon and ST in 2009.

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