The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reported that worldwide sales of semiconductors rose to $166.4 billion in 2003, up 18.3 percent from the $140.8 billion in global revenue recorded in 2002. The industry's second-half 2003 performance was one of the strongest on record, supported by US gross domestic product growth of 8.2 percent in the third quarter, and 4.0 percent in the fourth quarter. The industry recorded an 11 percent sequential revenue increase to $48.1 billion in the fourth quarter from $43.3 billion in the third quarter, and a 28-percent rise in year-over-year revenue in December of 2003.
"The industry's broad, upward momentum across all product sectors and geographic markets is driving us toward another year of strong, double-digit growth, which is now expected to exceed 19 percent in 2004," stated SIA President George Scalise. "The wireless sector continues to spearhead growth, but personal computer shipments also recovered in 2003 to an 11-percent unit volume increase. We are experiencing a virtual revolution in global consumer markets as consumers adopt new technology and multi-functional smart devices such as camera phones, personal digital assistants and DVDs.
