Global monthly semiconductor sales fall as the chip market takes another hit

According to statistics released by the Semiconductor Industry Association, global semiconductor sales fell 0.5% month-on-month in September and 3% year-on-year as demand continued to decline in the face of multiple macroeconomic headwinds. .

According to the SIA report, September chip purchases in the Americas region rose 11.5% compared to the same month in 2021 to just over $12 billion, while Europe and Japan saw increases to $4.53 billion and $4.05 billion respectively. dollars respectively. . However, this gain was more than offset by a 14.4% drop in the mainland China market to $14.43 billion over the same time period, as well as a 7.7% decline to $11.97 billion in all other markets.

The drop is the first year-over-year slowdown since January 2020, according to a statement from SIA President and CEO John Neufer.

“However, the long-term outlook for the market remains good as semiconductors continue to become a larger and more important part of our digital economy,” he said.

While Nufer’s upbeat sentiment is echoed by other long-term forecasts, there are several other indicators of near-term bearishness among global silicon makers, including recent earnings news from Intel, which said the company’s third-quarter revenue fell 20% year-over-year. annual basis. The US chipmaker’s net income fell sharply from $6.8 billion in the third quarter of 2021 to $1 billion in its latest report, an 85% drop.

The chip industry is facing structural upheaval from a shift in U.S. trade policy toward China, supply chain disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the prevailing view that the global economy is heading for a recession that has dampened demand.