WASHINGTON, DC – Worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $80.92 billion during the third quarter, the industry’s highest-ever quarterly total, with a sequential increase of 8.4%, says the Semiconductor Industry Association. Global sales for September reached $26.97 billion, the highest monthly total ever, up 8.7% year-over-year.

September sales in the Americas increased 24.3% compared to September 2012, while global sales for the month were up 3.3% sequentially.

“Sales of memory products have increased sharply compared to last year and continue to be a major driver of industry growth, but we have seen encouraging growth across the board,” said Brian Toohey, president and CEO of the SIA.

September sales topped sales from the same month last year in the Americas (up 24.3%), Asia Pacific (up 9.9%), and Europe (up 6.4%), but decreased in Japan by 12.9%, in large part because of the devaluation of the Japanese yen, says the SIA.

Sales in September were up across all regions sequentially, with the Americas posting the largest increase of 5.7%.

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