Global semiconductor sales for November 2024 increased by 20.7 percent year-over-year (YoY), totaling $57.8 billion.
According to data compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and reported by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), November also saw a 1.6 percent increase when compared to October 2024.
The Americas saw the largest increase in YoY sales, totaling 54.9 percent, while China, Asia Pacific/All Other, and Japan saw an increase of 12.1 percent, 10 percent, and 7.4 percent, respectively. However, the data showed that growth was not universal, with Europe posting a YoY decrease of 5.7 percent.
“The global semiconductor market continued to grow substantially in November, hitting its highest-ever monthly sales total as month-to-month sales increased for the eighth consecutive month,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO.
Meanwhile, a separate report published by SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International), a global semiconductor industry association, noted that globally, 18 new fab construction projects are expected to get underway in 2025.
According to the latest edition of its World Fab Forecast, the new projects include three 200mm and fifteen 300mm facilities. Most of these facilities are expected to be operational between 2026 and 2027.
Japan and the Americas are slated to see ground broken on four fabs each in 2025, while China, Europe, and the Middle East each have three planned. Construction is also expected to begin at two fabs in Taiwan this year, with Southeast Asia and Korea to gain one a piece.
The report also found that semiconductor capacity is expected to grow in 2025. SEMI has forecast a global yearly growth rate of 6.6 percent, a figure that would result in approximately 33.6 million wafers being produced per month this year.
Demand for memory, in particular high-bandwidth memory (HBM), will also lead to growth in that market segment the report said, with DRAM projected to see YoY growth of seven percent and 3D NAND anticipated to grow by five percent in 2025.
“The semiconductor industry has reached a pivotal juncture, with investments driving both leading-edge and mainstream technologies to meet evolving global demands,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. “Generative AI and high-performance computing are fueling advancements in the leading-edge logic and memory segments, while mainstream nodes continue to underpin critical applications in automotive, IoT, and power electronics.”
He added: “The construction of 18 new semiconductor fabs set to begin in 2025 demonstrates the industry’s commitment to support innovation and significant economic growth.”
