Semiconductor market going negative?

Semiconductor market going negative?
by Bill Jewell on 10-30-2015 at 12:00 am

The outlook for the semiconductor market for the remainder of 2015 is mixed. Intel’s 3Q 2015 revenues were up 10% from 2Q 2015 and guidance is for 2.3% growth in 4Q 2015. Most other companies which have announced 3Q 2015 results expect revenue declines in 4Q 2015. The most severe drops (based on the midpoint of company guidance) are… Read More


Semiconductor Inventories Under Control

Semiconductor Inventories Under Control
by Bill Jewell on 09-29-2015 at 7:00 pm

The semiconductor market is currently in a slow growth period. After 10% growth in 2014, the market is expected to only show low single-digit growth in 2015. Our own forecast at Semiconductor Intelligence is 1.5%. In several previous market slowdowns, inventories in the channel have climbed as some companies were slow to adjust… Read More


China: drag on global semiconductor market?

China: drag on global semiconductor market?
by Bill Jewell on 08-30-2015 at 7:00 pm

The Chinese stock market (as measured by the Hang Seng Index) dropped 11% from August 14 to August 24 over concerns of a slowing economy. In reaction, the U.S. stock market (as measured by the S&P 500) dropped 11% from August 17 to August 25. The China market has since rebounded 2% while the U.S. market rebounded 5%. Will a slowing… Read More


Internet of Things Bubble?

Internet of Things Bubble?
by Bill Jewell on 07-15-2015 at 10:00 pm

Speaking at the World Business Forum in Sydney, Australia in May, Steve Wonziak (cofounder of Apple) said about the Internet of Things : “I feel it’s kind of like a bubble, because there is a pace at which human beings can change the way they do things. There are tons of companies starting up.” According to market… Read More


Growth drivers shifting to emerging economies

Growth drivers shifting to emerging economies
by Bill Jewell on 06-24-2015 at 4:00 am

Global real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2015 is expected to be 3.5%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) April 2015 report. 2015 is a slight acceleration of 0.1 percentage points from 3.4% growth in 2014. The IMF projects 2016 global growth of 3.8%, an acceleration of 0.3 percentage points from 2015. The… Read More


Global Electronics Trending Upward

Global Electronics Trending Upward
by Bill Jewell on 05-21-2015 at 12:00 am

Global electronics production is on a generally positive trend. The chart below shows three-month-average change versus a year ago (3/12 change) for electronics production by country or region in local currency. Total industrial production is shown for Europe and South Korea since electronics production data is not available.… Read More


2015 Semiconductor Capex led by Memory & Foundry

2015 Semiconductor Capex led by Memory & Foundry
by Bill Jewell on 04-25-2015 at 7:00 am

Semiconductor industry capital expenditures (capex) in 2015 are expected to be $69 billion in 2015, up 6% from $65 billion in 2014 according to IC Insights. We at Semiconductor Intelligence have compiled 2015 capex outlook by company. The major memory companies account for 38% of 2015 capex and the major foundries account for … Read More


Semiconductors off to slow start in 2015

Semiconductors off to slow start in 2015
by Bill Jewell on 03-23-2015 at 4:30 pm

A weak first quarter outlook for the semiconductor market is indicating a slow start to 2015. Intel recently lowered the midpoint of its 1Q 2015 revenue guidance from $13.7 billion (down 7% from 4Q 2014) to $12.8 billion (down 13%). The table below shows the estimated top 25 semiconductor companies revenue change for 4Q 2014 versus… Read More


Vietnam: Rising Star in Electronics

Vietnam: Rising Star in Electronics
by Bill Jewell on 02-25-2015 at 1:00 pm

I recently returned from a trip to Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. The trip was for pleasure, not business, but I could not help but notice the boom in economic activity. The coastal cities of Hai Phong, Da Nang and NHA Trang were trying to outdo each other in building hotels, bridges and amusement parks – largely to cater to foreign… Read More


2015 International CES: wearables and smart home

2015 International CES: wearables and smart home
by Bill Jewell on 01-13-2015 at 7:00 pm

2015 International CES was held last week in Las Vegas. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) which puts on the show said over 170,000 people attended. The show featured more than 3,600 exhibitors covering over 2.2 million square feet of exhibit space.

In advance of the show, CEA released highlights of its forecast for the… Read More