WSTS Semiconductor Market Forecast

According to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS), the world semiconductor market is expected to reach $B227 in 2005, an increase of 6.3% over 2004.

This is very close to the forecast issued a year ago, while the forecast made in autumn 2004 drew a less optimistic scenario of 1.2% growth for 2005. Within the environment of a generally recovering world economy and growing demand in major application end-markets, semiconductor industry growth in the first quarter of 2005 was stronger than projected, despite of first signs of deceleration observed in the second half of 2004.

While the current forecast maintains the "soft landing" scenario, the industry anticipates positive growth throughout the forecasting period with mid single-digit growth rates in 2005 and 2006 and thereafter to resume double digit growth. While the forecasted semiconductor market cycle is considerably smoother than previous cycles, the different regions and products maintain their historical patterns. That is, the memory product cycle is more pronounced than the other products and Asia Pacific continues to be the fastest growing region, due not only to a continuing shift in equipment production but also to rising internal demand in those countries. The growth of equipment production in Mainland China is expected to sustain faster than average growth in Asia throughout the entire forecasting period.