Healthy growth predicted for chip sales

STARGAZERS AT SIA, the Semiconductor Industry Association, reckon global chip sales are on course to grow by 3.8 per cent this year.

Estimates of sales of some $257.1 billion, have plucked from the heavens as chip counters have observed fat demand for consumer electronics devices.

The SIA reckons 2008 will be even better, predicting sales of $276.9 billion, up 7.7 per cent from this year. And 2009 should see around a seven per cent growth rate too, if the industry association knows its chips from its chaff.

George Scalise, SIA's president, said that despite energy costs and other concerns, "sales of personal computers, cell phone handsets, MP3 players and digital televisions were very robust in 2007."

The Asia-Pacific region will remain the fastest-growing market for a couple of years, the alignments predict. µ