Global chip makers cut 2007 sales outlook
TOKYO — The world's top
chip makers have cut their sales growth forecast for the global chip market in 2007 following a weaker-than-expected first quarter but still expect solid growth in 2008, an industry body said on Wednesday (May 30).
The global semiconductor market is now expected to grow by 2.3 percent to $253.51 billion in 2007, according to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS), which groups the world's main semiconductor manufacturers.
In October it expected growth of 8.6 percent.
The group also trimmed its 2008 growth estimate for the worldwide semiconductor market to 10.2 percent from an earlier expectation of 12.1 percent growth.
For 2009 it sees 5.2 percent growth, it said in its bi-annual market forecast.
The adjusted forecast comes after severe price falls hurt
computer memory makers in the January-March quarter, and hope has shifted to a recovery in microcomputers.
"Revenues in first quarter 2007 (were) lower than expected for almost all products," WSTS said in a statement.
But a moderate recovery is expected in the second half of 2007, it said. Industry participants are eyeing a recovery in demand for microprocessors for back-to-school and year-end demand.
Microcomputers, also known as microprocessors, are the central computing brains of devices and are made by companies such as Intel and AMD
WSTS said demand for semiconductors in 2008 and 2009 will continue to be driven by consumers' appetite for electronic products such as personal computers, digital consumer gadgets and mobile phones.
The Asia-Pacific continues to be the fastest-growing geographical region, now primarily due to rising domestic demand.
Previously, growth in the region was driven mainly by chip makers moving production to Asia to benefit from lower wages and the increasing presence of electronics goods assembly companies.
By: Mayumi Negishi