WASHINGTON — Worldwide sales of semiconductors rose 4.8% year-over-year in April, the Semiconductor Industry Association said.

Sales fell 0.4% to $27.6 billion, the trade group added.

The Americas market posted double-digit growth compared to last year, leading all regions.

All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization and represent a three-month moving average. Additionally, a new WSTS industry forecast projects steady market growth for the next three years.

“Year-to-year semiconductor sales increased for the 24th straight month in April, thanks largely to continued growth in the Americas and Asia Pacific regional markets,” said John Neuffer, president and CEO, SIA. “The global industry has posted higher sales through April than at the same point in 2014, and we expect continued growth for the rest of 2015 and beyond.”

Regionally, year-to-year sales increased in the Americas (12.2%), China (9.9%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (5.2%), while sales decreased compared with last year in Europe (-5.6%) and Japan (-10.7%). Compared with last month, sales were up in the Asia Pacific/All Other (2.3%) category, but down in Japan (-0.2%), China (-0.7%), Europe (-2.3%), and the Americas (-3.4%).

WSTS projects year-over-year increases for 2015 in Asia Pacific (7%) and the Americas (3.7%), with decreases projected for Europe (-3.6%) and Japan (-9.5%).

Beyond 2015, the industry is expected to grow at a modest pace across all regions. WSTS forecasts 3.4% growth globally for 2016 ($358.9 billion in total sales) and 3% growth for 2017 ($369.6 billion).

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