The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $84.0 billion during the second quarter of 2015, an increase of 1.0% over the previous quarter and 2.0% compared to the second quarter of 2014.

Global sales for the month of June 2015 reached $28.0 billion, an uptick of 2.0% over the June 2014 total of $27.4 billion and a decrease of 0.4% from last month’s total of $28.1 billion. Year-to-date sales during the first half of 2015 were 3.9% higher than they were at the same point in 2014. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.

Macroeconomic headwinds and softening demand have slowed global semiconductor market growth somewhat, but the industry still posted its highest-ever second-quarter sales and remains ahead of the pace of sales set in 2014, which was a record year for semiconductor revenues. The Americas market continues to post solid year-to-year sales increases, and the global market has now grown on a year-to-year basis for 26 consecutive months.

Regionally, sales increased compared to June 2014 in China (7.8%), the Americas (5.6%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (5.2%), but fell in Europe (-11.5%) and Japan (-13.6%). Sales were up slightly compared to last month in Japan (1.0%) and China (0.6%), but down somewhat in Asia Pacific/All Other (-0.6%), the Americas (-1.6%), and Europe (-1.7%). Sales figures in Europe and Japan have been impacted somewhat by currency devaluation.

Global semiconductor sales are one indicator of the strength of the U.S. industry, which accounts for more than half of total global sales. Policymakers in Washington should enact policies that do more to promote innovation and allow our industry to compete more effectively globally. We applaud the newly formed Congressional Semiconductor Caucus – led by Sen. James Risch (R-ID), Sen. Angus King (I-ME), Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) – for working to advance pro-growth policies that will strengthen the U.S. semiconductor industry and our economy.

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