SA Charts: Semiconductor sales rise in March; China, APAC boosts investments, Americas dip

Worldwide semiconductor sales reached $55.9 billion in March, noting its first sequential uptick after two months of declines.

March sales increased 1.8% from the previous month and about 18.8% from March of last year, the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics data reported.

The Americas, which account for a major chunk of sales, continued to witness sequential monthly declines. March sales dipped about 0.4% to $18.57 billion. Meanwhile, Europe, China, and Asia Pacific boosted their respective investments between 2.4% and 5.7% compared to February.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Commerce said it was looking into the potential impact of semiconductor imports on national security, likely setting the stage for tariffs on the sectors.

“Untargeted tariffs risk reducing American competitiveness by raising the cost of developing technology and manufacturing chips here at home,” the Semiconductor Industry Association said in its comments to the U.S. Department of Commerce on the matter.

In the first quarter, global semiconductor sales were $167.7 billion, an increase of 18.8% compared to the first quarter of 2024 but 2.8% less than the fourth quarter of 2024.

Compared to last year, the Americas recorded a 45.3% jump in semiconductor sales, while Asia Pacific was the runner-up at a 15.4% growth pace. China saw a 7.6% year-on-year rise in sales in February.