WASHINGTON — Worldwide semiconductor sales were $35 billion in May, an increase of 5.8% year-over-year and 1.5% sequentially, says the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization and represent a three-month moving average. Additionally, a newly released WSTS industry forecast projects annual global sales will increase 3.3% in 2020 and 6.2% in 2021.

“The global semiconductor market in May remained largely resistant to the widespread economic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, but there is still significant uncertainty for the months ahead,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “The latest industry forecast projects modest annual growth for 2020, followed by more substantial sales increases in 2021.”

Regionally, sales increased slightly on a month-to-month basis in China (5.8%), Japan (2.8%), and the Americas (1.9%) but decreased in Asia Pacific/All Other (1.7%) and Europe (6.5%). On a year-over-year basis, sales increased significantly in the Americas (25.5%) and more modestly in China (4.9%), Asia Pacific/All Other (2.5%), and Japan (1.5%) but decreased in Europe (12.9%).

SIA endorsed the WSTS Spring 2020 global semiconductor sales forecast, which projects the industry’s worldwide sales will be $426 billion in 2020, marking a 3.3% increase from 2019. WSTS projects year-over-year increases in the Americas (12.8%) and Asia Pacific (2.6%), while decreases are projected for sales into Europe (4.1%) and Japan (4.4%). In 2021, the global market is projected to post moderate growth of 6.2%.

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