Sales of semiconductors reached $27.8bn in February 2015

Regionally, sales in the Americas increased by 17.1% compared to last February to lead all regional markets. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organisation and represent a three-month moving average.

“The global semiconductor industry maintained momentum in February, posting its 22nd straight month of y-o-y growth despite macroeconomic headwinds,” said John Neuffer, President and CEO, SIA. “Sales of DRAM and analogue products were particularly strong, notching double-digit growth over last February, and the Americas market achieved its largest y-o-y sales increase in 12 months.”

Regionally, y-o-y sales increased in the Americas (17.1%) and Asia Pacific (7.6%), but decreased in Europe (-2.0%) and Japan (-8.8%). Sales decreased compared to the previous month in Europe (-1.6%), Asia Pacific (-2.2%), Japan (-2.3%), and the Americas (-4.4%).

“While we are encouraged by the semiconductor market’s sustained growth over the last two years, a key driver of our industry’s continued success is free trade,” Neuffer added. “A legislative initiative called Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) has paved the way for opening markets to American goods and services for decades, helping to give life to nearly every U.S. free trade agreement in existence, but it expired in 2007. With several important free trade agreements currently under negotiation, Congress should swiftly re-enact TPA.”