The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has announced that global semiconductor sales will exceed $500 billion for the first time in 2021 after chipmakers accelerated production in response to a worldwide shortage of chips from the global semiconductor industry. In addition, the economy has recovered rapidly from the COVID-19 epidemic.
According to the report, global chip sales increased 26.2% to $555.9 billion in 2021, a record high. That’s up from $440.4 billion in 2020, while the semiconductor industry saw a record $1.15 trillion in chip exports.
As reported by the Kyodo news agency, demand for chips used in automotive applications, computer games, networks, and mobile devices, as well as other consumer and industrial products, is expected to continue to grow.
When counted by region:
Chip sales in China, the world’s largest chip market, increased by 27.1%.
Sales on the American market increased the most, by 27.4%.
Europe, up 27.3%.
In Japan, chip sales increased by 19.8% respectively.
Asia-Pacific and other markets recorded a 25.9% increase in chip sales.
Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, said in late 2021 that the semiconductor shortage would continue through 2023.
Intel also plans to invest 30 billion ringgit ($7.2 billion) in Malaysia over the next 10 years to increase chip production.
Other chipmakers have also ramped up production capacity in response to demand for chips.
Taiwan’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the world’s largest chipmaker. The company plans to invest $8.6 billion in Japan to build a chip factory in Kumamoto Prefecture in cooperation with Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corp. and automotive supplier Denso Corp.