Global chip sales stayed firm in December, says analyst

LONDON — The three-month average of global chip sales for December was $22.4 billion compared with $22.6 billion in November and up 28.5 percent from $17.4 billion, according to Bruce Diesen, an analyst at Carnegie Group (Oslo, Norway).

A decrease in December is quite normal due to the short month and the fact that inventory is aimed at the relatively quiet start to the next year.

However, this would imply that actual December chip sales rose 47 percent compared with December 2008. Memory chips are set to be up the most, followed by PC, automotive and handset chips in that order, Diesen said. The large rise reflects how sales were plummeting in December 2008.

Carnegie has modified its full year predictions for 2009 and now states that 2009 chip sales will fall between 9 and 9.5 percent in dollar terms but stuck with a previous prediction that 2010 chip sales will rise 13 percent.

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