SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Global sales of semiconductors grew 7.1 percent in the second quarter to $74.8 billion from $69.9 billion in the first quarter, an industry group says.
The Semiconductor Industry Association said Monday chip sales in the first half of the year were "exceptionally robust, driven by strong demand from a broad range of end markets."
Worldwide chip sales totaled $144.6 billion in the first half of 2010, more than 50 percent higher than the same period of 2009.
But SIA expects sequential growth rates to moderate in the coming months. Year-over-year, it expects the industry to grow by 28.4 percent in 2010. This reflects not just improving demand but also the effects of the industry's slowdown in the first half of 2009, SIA said.
June sales climbed 0.5 percent to $24.9 billion from sales of $24.8 billion in May.
