Logic ($154.8 billion in 2021 sales) and memory ($153.8 billion) were the largest semiconductor categories by sales
Global semiconductor sales totaled $555.9 billion in 2021, the highest-ever annual total and an increase of 26.2 percent compared to the 2020 total of $440.4 billion, a report by Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said.
The industry shipped a record 1.15 trillion semiconductor units in 2021, as chip companies ramped up production to address high demand amid the global chip shortage.
Global sales for the month of December 2021 were $50.9 billion, an increase of 28.3 percent compared to the December 2020 total and 1.5 percent more than the total from November 2021.
Fourth-quarter sales of $152.6 billion were 28.3 percent more than the total from the fourth quarter of 2020 and 4.9 percent higher than the total from third quarter of 2021.
“In 2021, amid the ongoing global chip shortage, semiconductor companies substantially ramped up production to unprecedented levels to address persistently high demand, resulting in record chip sales and units shipped,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO.
On a regional basis, sales into the Americas market saw the largest increase (27.4 percent) in 2021.
China remained the largest individual market for semiconductors, with sales there totaling $192.5 billion in 2021, an increase of 27.1 percent.
Annual sales also increased in 2021 in Europe (27.3 percent), Asia Pacific/All Other (25.9 percent), and Japan (19.8 percent).
Several semiconductor product segments stood out in 2021. Analog, a type of semiconductor that is commonly used in vehicles, consumer goods, and computers, had the highest annual growth rate of 33.1 percent, reaching $74 billion in 2021 sales.
Logic ($154.8 billion in 2021 sales) and memory ($153.8 billion) were the largest semiconductor categories by sales. Sales of micro-ICs — a category that includes microprocessors — increased 15.1% to $80.2 billion in 2021. Sales of all non-memory products combined increased by 24.5% in 2021. Sales of automotive ICs increased 34.3% year-over-year to a record high of $26.4 billion.
