Electronics upturn boosting semiconductors

Production of electronics has been accelerating in the last several months, contributing to strong growth in the semiconductor market. China, the largest producer of electronics, has seen three-month-average change versus a year ago (3/12 change) accelerate from below 10% for most of 2016 to 14.5% in April 2017. China’s April growth rate is the highest in over five years. United States electronics production 3/12 change has been over 5% since December 2016. U.S. electronics 3/12 change had not been over 5% in over ten years, since November 2006.

The European Union (EU) no longer releases monthly data on electronics production. EU total industrial production 3/12 change was 2.4% in April 2017. EU industrial production growth has been in the range of 1% to 3% since November 2013, following 20 months of 3/12 decline in 2012 and 2013. Japan electronics production has been volatile, with 3/12 change over the last seven years ranging from a 27% decline to 8% growth. March 2017 3/12 change was 1.6%, the first positive 3/12 change in the last 18 months. According to data from World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS), semiconductor market 3/12 change has accelerated dramatically over the last year from a 7% decline in May 2016 to 21% growth in April 2017. Accelerating electronics production has driven much of the semiconductor growth. Other driving factors are rising memory prices and inventory restocking.

Although China is the dominant Asian electronics producer, other counties play a significant role. Electronics production 3/12 change over the last year shows a mixed picture. Vietnam and India are significant emerging electronics producers. However, over the last year the 3/12 change for each country has decelerated from over 20% to about 2% in April 2017. Malaysia has shown steady growth in the 6% to 8% range. Thailand has bounced back from declines of 5% to 8% a year ago to double digit growth in each of the last two months.

South Korea and Taiwan have been historically significant electronics producers. South Korea has shown positive 3/12 change for the last 20 months after 12 months of decline in late 2014 to late 2015. Taiwan has been weak over the last couple of years, with 3/12 declines since April 2015. Taiwan has been the among the hardest hit countries with the shift of electronics manufacturing to China. In many cases, it has been Taiwan-based companies behind the shifts.

The table below shows average hourly manufacturing compensations costs (wages + benefits) by key countries. Location of electronics production is dependent on several factors, but compensation costs are a major consideration for labor intensive, low-skilled manufacturing. The U.S., Euro Area, Japan and South Korea are high cost areas with compensation costs over $20 per hour. Taiwan is trending toward high cost at about $10 per hour. China at $3.52 per hour is low cost compared to the above countries. However, Vietnam and India at about $1 per hour have costs less than one third of China’s. Thus India and Vietnam electronics manufacturing should grow faster than China over the next several years.

Trends in electronics production bear watching. A slowdown in the growth rate of electronics will lead to a downturn in the semiconductor market. A drop-off in electronics may also lead to falling memory prices and semiconductor inventory reductions – which could drive the semiconductor market negative. As we stated in our semiconductor forecast last month, this downturn could occur as early as 2019.