Global Semiconductor Sales Decreased 8.7% in the First Quarter

[TheLostSwede]

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced worldwide sales of semiconductors totaled $119.5 billion during the first quarter of 2023, a decrease of 8.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 and 21.3% less than the first quarter of 2022. Sales for the month of March 2023 increased 0.3% compared to February 2023. Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average. SIA represents 99% of the U.S. semiconductor industry by revenue and nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. chip firms.

"Semiconductor sales continued to slip during the first quarter of 2023 due to market cyclicality and macroeconomic headwinds, but month-to-month sales were up in March for the first time in nearly a year, providing optimism for a rebound in the months ahead," said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. Regionally, month-to-month sales increased in Europe (2.7%), Asia Pacific/All Other (2.6%), and China (1.2%), but decreased in Japan (-1.1%) and the Americas (-3.5%). Year-to-year sales decreased across all regions: Europe (-0.7%), Japan (-1.3%), the Americas (-16.4%), Asia Pacific/All Other (-22.2%), and China (-34.1%).



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[64K]

I suspect there will be a pretty good rebound in revenue for semiconductors when there is less fear of the consequences that could come economically in the near future. But there is also the factor of people buying huge amounts of electronic hardware during the Pandemic because they had to in order to work from home or out of boredom from lock downs and now have most of what they want already for the time being.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I suspect there will be a pretty good rebound in revenue for semiconductors when there is less fear of the consequences that could come economically in the near future. But there is also the factor of people buying huge amounts of electronic hardware during the Pandemic because they had to in order to work from home or out of boredom from lock downs and now have most of what they want already for the time being.

It all comes down to what people bought though, as some would've ended up with whatever was available and might want something that fits their needs better.
That said, consumers are on what, a five year upgrade cycle on average when it comes to most electronics apart from phones?
Could be a long, slow time ahead for consumer electronics at least, but with more electrical cars being made, partially due to government mandates, it might not be as bad as it looks overall for the semiconductor industry, it's just that they're going to have to make different things.

 

[64K]

It all comes down to what people bought though, as some would've ended up with whatever was available and might want something that fits their needs better.
That said, consumers are on what, a five year upgrade cycle on average when it comes to most electronics apart from phones?
Could be a long, slow time ahead for consumer electronics at least, but with more electrical cars being made, partially due to government mandates, it might not be as bad as it looks overall for the semiconductor industry, it's just that they're going to have to make different things.

Another example is shortage of chips for new cars here in the US. So, we have a shortage of cars and higher than normal prices as a result. I have been wanting a new car for quite some time but available new cars to buy and lack of selection is abysmal.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Another example is shortage of chips for new cars here in the US. So, we have a shortage of cars and higher than normal prices as a result. I have been wanting a new car for quite some time but available new cars to buy and lack of selection is abysmal.

Yeah, the issue there is that the car makers are stuck at 180 or 130 nm nodes, or eve greater in some cases, which is something the foundries have been complaining about, as most of them want to move on from their old, less profitables nodes. It's not just the US, it seems to be a global issue and it's in part why the EU has been trying to get a few local foundries.
Looks like GloFo and ST are going to build an 18 nm foundry in France https://www.reuters.com/technology/...n-eu-approval-french-chip-factory-2023-04-28/