Year-to-date sales were down 3.7% compared to the same period last year
Worldwide semiconductor sales have increased 1.7% to $25.22bn in October this year, compared to $24.79bn recorded during the last month, according to a report from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).
The report claims that monthly sales topped $25bn for the first time in this year and remained above the seasonal growth rate in October.
According to the report, total year-to-date sales were down 3.7% in this year, compared to the same period last year, but the deficit was smaller than it has been all year.
Sales in the Americas increased by 8.1% and sales in Asia Pacific and Europe rose by 1.3% and 0.2% respectively, while Japanese sales declined by 3.1%.
The report found that in the Americas region, combined sales from August through October grew 15.5% compared to sales from May through July.
SIA president and CEO Brian Toohey said: "The global semiconductor industry has demonstrated impressive resilience this year, despite operating in a challenging global macroeconomic environment."
"Sales for 2012 continue to lag behind 2011 totals, but the gap has closed in recent months thanks largely to growth in the Americas," Toohey said.
"Sales for October were significantly above seasonal trends, and we expect to carry this momentum into 2013 and 2014, with moderate growth projected for both years."
According to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation's Autumn 2012 forecast, global semiconductor sales will decline by 3.2% to $290bn in 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.
On a regional basis, WSTS projects that sales will decline in the Americas by 4.4%, in Europe by 10.7%, in Japan by 2.1% and in Asia Pacific by 1.4% in 2012.
According to the WSTS forecast, beyond 2012, the industry is expected to grow steadily and moderately across all regions.
WSTS expects a 4.5% growth globally for 2013 to $303bn in total sales and 5.2% growth for 2014 to $319bn.
According to SEMI Semiconductor Equipment Consensus Forecast, worldwide sales of new semiconductor manufacturing equipment are expected to reach $38.2bn in 2012.
