AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands — Global semiconductor sales growth slowed more sharply than expected in April, according to a Reuters report that cited the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) group as its source.
Monthly sales of $12.14 billion were flat compared with March and up 9.7 percent on the same month a year ago, down from growth rates of more than 20 percent earlier this year, the account reports WSTS as saying.
Sales in Asia Pacific and Japan rose slightly compared with March, while sales in the Americas and Europe declined, the report said.
April sales figures, based upon a three month rolling average of actual figures, were weaker than expected, continuing a growth slowdown amid weakening Asian consumer demand for PCs and cell phones due to the SARS virus, analysts were reported saying.
"The $12.14 billion is lighter than expected. End demand has been disappointing in April. Should this continue, semiconductor vendors...will end the quarter with higher inventories," Reuters quoted Deutsche Bank analyst Nicolas Gaudois saying.
