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SAN JOSE – Third-quarter worldwide semiconductor sales were $61.9 billion, up 19.7% sequentially, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today. Sales were down 10.1% year-over-year.

September sales were $20.1 billion, up 8.2% from August.

“Global semiconductor sales in the third quarter were above expectations,” said SIA President George Scalise. “September sales were in line with historical patterns, reflecting increased demand from end-users as they began the build for the holiday season. Unit sales of personal computers and cell phones – the two largest demand drivers for semiconductors – continue to run ahead of earlier forecasts. Meanwhile, demand for semiconductors for industrial applications – a sector that had declined sharply – showed initial signs of recovery. Sales increased in all geographic regions.

“Amid signs that we are in the early stages of recovery in the global economy, semiconductor sales continue to reflect normal seasonal patterns. Sales are running well ahead of the worst-case scenarios projected early in the year, and we are optimistic that total sales for 2009 will be better than our mid-year forecast,” Scalise concluded.

YAVNE, ISRAEL -- Orbotech today reported third-quarter revenues slipped 1.8% sequentially and 2.6% year-over-year, respectively, to $92.3 million.

NEW YORK -- The US manufacturing sector grew in October for the third consecutive month and at a faster rate than expected, according to an industry report released today.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PWB shipments in September were up 21.8% sequentially, while orders increased 31%.

TOKYO – August printed wiring board shipments in Japan fell 7.5% sequentially to 54.6 billion yen, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.

DUBLIN – Global electronics equipment production will swing from a record 9.5% contraction in 2009 to a 6.5% gain in 2010, says Research and Markets.

2010 will be a lead-in to an even more robust 10.5% expansion in 2011, the research firm predicts.

The ongoing industry recovery will gather considerable momentum during the next two years, according to the firm.

In the near-term, double-digit unemployment rates and the need to rebuild ravaged nest eggs will undercut consumer purchases of cars and electronic products, the firm predicts. And profit-challenged corporations awash in excess operating capacity will be in no hurry to invest in new IT hardware. Moreover, because banks will be focused on rebuilding their own depleted capital bases, they will retain restrictive lending policies well into next year.