Tepid Growth for ICs, IDC Says
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide semiconductor revenues will grow 5% year-over-year in 2012 and will achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% through 2015, said International Data Corp. in its semiannual forecast.
Semiconductor revenues will grow modestly in 2011 to $303 billion, IDC said.
The research firm cautioned that continued macroeconomic problems, including persistent high unemployment and low consumer sentiment in the US, the ongoing sovereign debt crisis, fear of recession in the US and Japan in 2012, and fear of high inflation in China, India and Brazil, will likely hamper the semiconductor market in 2012. Long-term demand for smartphones, media tablets, mobile PCs, set-top boxes, LCD TVs, wired networks, industrial automation, and automotive infotainment remains strong, however, said IDC.
For 2012, IDC forecasts year-over-year growth of 4% in semiconductors for PCs, 7% for Communications, 5% for Consumer, 5% for Automotive and 8% for Industrial. PCs represent about 40% of all semiconductor revenues, while Industrial, military and aerospace together represent about 16%.
ASSP revenues for media/audio/graphics will show a CAGR (2010-2015) of 11%, while DRAM revenues will decline due to continued pricing pressure (CAGR from 2010-2015 of 1%). Regionally, Asia/Pacific continues to grow its share of semiconductor revenues, reaching 43% in 2015.
