The global semiconductor sales decline in January
                                                                          Release time ：2005-03-10

   American semiconductor industry association (SIA) has announced in January, the global chip sales than 183 billion, $18.4 billion than 12 months, but 0.5% decline than January 2004, $156 billion of growth 17.5%. SIA points out, January usually is a semiconductor sales weaker in just over, especially after a long holiday.

SIA President George Scalise said: "in January in the semiconductor sales only 0.5% decline is a good sign, is a chip industry sales in January of one of the most light in the overall U.S. economy. Recent growth encouraging America's GDP has 3.8%, Q4 is prevented the growth of research company Dan. DFM Hutcheson, when American once pointed out more than 3% GDP growth, semiconductor sales will have health performance, unless there is excess inventory or excess capacity. Current opinion, inventory and productivity are there won't be any problems."

"In the last half of 2004 excess inventory mostly has been settled," Scalise said, "according to iSuppli report, excess inventory is $16 billion from the percentile fell to the $1 billion by the end of 2004. In some marketing field goal level, inventory is now below, so we can be sure in the first quarter of this year after inventory won't become a big in semiconductor industry."

As stage, the wafer plant of capacity utilization continues to decline, continued throughout the second half year of 2004. The fourth quarter wafer factory capacity for the average utilization the utilization rate of 86%, leading manufacturer for 93%. Annual capacity spending increased to about 470 billion dollars, close to year 2004 chip sales of 22 percent. Scalise said, "in a year of industrial sales records, the level of productivity compliances with future capacity needs, should not lead to overcapacity and severe price pressure."