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Global chip sales up 1.3 % in Nov-02

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CIOL Bureau
New Update

Lucas van Grinsven



AMSTERDAM: Global semiconductor sales rose 1.3 percent to $12.68 billion in November from $12.51 billion in October, according to figures published on Monday by the chip industry's main research group. Growth decelerated from October when monthly growth was up 1.8 percent on the previous month, The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) group said.



This year, demand from businesses and consumers for the two categories which consume most of the world's chips, computers and mobile phones, have remained slack. Compared with the same month of November a year earlier, global sales grew 19.6 percent, slightly slower than the 19.9 percent annual growth measured in October. Comparisons with the same months last year look favorable, but only because the semiconductor industry then experienced its worst period ever.



The historical November data were in line with earlier indications that consumers are cautious, with the U.S. retail sector now expecting its worst holiday sales season in 30 years.



The European FTSE semiconductor index, 32 percent lower in the month of December in anticipation of another delay of the sector's recovery, rose 0.5 percent at 165.39 points on Monday, slightly outperforming the flat DJ Stock European technology index.



Europe Strong


Regional differences showed resilience of European chip sales while the Americas and Japan hovered around zero growth and Asia Pacific was in line with the global average. Asia Pacific ex-Japan, the region where most chips are manufactured, rose 1.3 percent in November from October to $4.62 billion, slightly faster than the one percent growth in October.



In Europe, where the chip sector is focused on consumer electronics, cars, mobile phones and other categories which are not exposed to the depressed computer sector, monthly sales grew 5.8 percent to $2.60 billion, down slightly from 6.2 percent growth in October.



In the Americas and Japan, November sales declined by 0.8 percent and 0.6 percent respectively compared with October, down from 0.5 and 0.8 percent growth a month earlier.



© Reuters

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