Worldwide semicon records flat growth: SIA

Despite setbacks, worldwide semiconductor industry has clocked $299.5 billion sales in 2011 as compared to $298.3 billion in 2010, with an year-on-year growth rate of 0.4 per cent, reported US-based Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

There had been a huge demand from optoelectronic, sensor and actuator, and microprocessor segments in 2011. The asscoiation anticipates further recovery in due to the increased demand across a broad range of end market segments combined with the delayed sales impact from the supply chain disruptions in the second half of 2011.

Lamps and image sensors drove growth in the optoelectronic market to $23.1B, a 6.4% increase over 2010. Optoelectronic applications bring energy efficiency and low cost in a wide range of products including mobile devices and cameras.

Sensors and actuators showed the highest year over year growth at 15.5% to $8.0B in 2011, though regarded as the smallest semi-con segment.

MOS Microprocessors recorded a year-over-year growth, with an increase of 7.5 percent in revenue to $65.2B due to the strong demand in the enterprise computing segment.

“Between the natural disasters in Japan and Thailand and the overall impact of a weak global economy, 2011 presented a number of major challenges for the semiconductor industry. Despite these setbacks the industry showed resiliency and posted year on year growth with record-breaking revenues for 2011,” said Brian Toohey, president, Semiconductor Industry Association.

The health of the industry is a direct reflection of the pervasiveness of semiconductor innovations and their applications in almost every aspect of modern society he added.