‘Miserable Year’ for Semiconductors Boosted by Sensor Growth

Despite stronger-than-expected growth during the fourth quarter, global semiconductor revenue in 2012 declined by 2.2 percent from 2011, according to Dale Ford, senior director at HIS. “The last three months were the only quarter in 2012 that generated a year-over-year increase in semiconductor market revenue, but that growth was too little and too late to salvage a terrible year for chipmakers,” said Ford. Even so, IHS predicts global semiconductor revenue will rise by 5.6 percent in 2013, “bringing an end to the slump of 2012,” he added.