The global semiconductor market in 2022 was $573.5 billion, according to WSTS. 2022 was up 3.2% from 2021, a significant slowdown from 26.2% growth in 2021. We at Semiconductor Intelligence track semiconductor market forecasts and award a virtual prize for the most accurate forecast for the year. The criteria are a forecast publicly… Read More
CES is Back, but is the Market?
CES 2023, the annual consumer technology show, was held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 115,000 people attended and over 3200 companies exhibited. As shown below, attendance and exhibitors were up about 2 ½ times the pandemic limited CES 2022. However, attendance was down one-third and exhibitors were down 27% from CES 2020.… Read More
Semiconductors Down in 2nd Half 2022
The semiconductor market declined 6.3% in 3Q 2022 from 2Q 2022, according to WSTS. Based on the outlook for 4Q 2022, the second half of 2022 will be down over 10% from the first half of 2022. The 2H 2022 decline will be the largest half-year decline since a 21% drop in the first half of 2009 versus the second half of 2008 during the great … Read More
Continued Electronics Decline
Third quarter 2022 data on PC and smartphone shipments shows a continuing year-to-year decline. IDC estimates PC units in 3Q 2022 were down 15% from a year earlier, matching the 2Q 2022 decline. IDC’s September forecast for PC units was a 12.8% decline for the year 2022, which is in line with the latest quarterly data. Canalys estimates… Read More
Semiconductor Decline in 2023
The semiconductor market dropped 0.8 percent in 2Q 2022 versus 1Q 2022, according to WSTS. The 2Q 2022 decline followed a 0.5% quarter-to-quarter decline in 1Q 2022. The 2Q 2022 revenues of the top 15 semiconductor suppliers match the overall market results, with a 1% decline from 1Q 2022. The results by company were mixed. Memory… Read More
Automotive Semiconductor Shortage Over?
Several signs point to an easing of the shortages of semiconductors for automotive applications. However, the production of light vehicles will likely remain below full potential through at least 2023. LMC Automotive’s July forecast of light vehicle production called for 81.7 million units in 2022, up 2% from 2021. LMC’s January… Read More
Electronics is Slowing
Key semiconductor market drivers PCs and smartphones are both showing declines in shipments in the first half of 2022. According to IDC, PC shipments in 2Q 2022 were down 15% from a year earlier. 2Q 2022 PC shipments of 71.3 million units were at the lowest level in almost three years since 70.9 million units were shipped in 3Q 2019.… Read More
Semiconductors Weakening in 2022
The semiconductor market in 2022 is weakening. Driving factors include rising inflation, the Russian war on Ukraine, COVID-19 related shutdowns in China, and lingering supply chain issues. Four of the top 14 semiconductor companies (Intel, Qualcomm, Nvidia and Texas Instruments) are expecting lower revenues in 2Q 2022 versus… Read More
Semiconductor CapEx Warning
Semiconductor makers are planning strong capital expenditure (CapEx) growth in 2022. According to IC Insights, 13 companies plan to increase CapEx in 2022 by over 40% from 2021. The largest CapEx for 2022 will be from TSMC at $42 billion, up 40%, and Intel at $27 billion, up 44%. IC Insights is forecasting total semiconductor industry… Read More
Electronics, COVID-19, and Ukraine
The outlook for electronics and semiconductors in 2022 is uncertain. Just as the world was returning to more normal conditions after (hopefully) the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is over, Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a March 15 blog post asserted the Russian invasion of Ukraine… Read More