After Record Sales in 2022, Semi Sales Forecast to Fall -5% in 2023

Collapsing memory prices and uncertain global economy weigh on next year’s growth.

November 29, 2022 -- Total semiconductor sales include the combined sales of ICs, optoelectronics, sensors and actuators, and discretes (O-S-D) components. After soaring 25% to $614.7 billion in 2021, worldwide semiconductor sales are expected to increase 3% in 2022 and to a new record sales level of $636.0 billion this year (Figure 1).

Figure 1

However, adverse conditions that stunted semiconductor sales in the second half of 2022 are expected to persist through the first half of next year. A global economy that is struggling through recession, soft demand for new enterprise and personal computers and smartphones, elevated chip inventory levels, and continued weakness in the memory IC market are expected to reduce total semiconductor sales by -5% next year. Total IC sales are forecast to decline -6% while combined sales of O-S-D devices are forecast to nudge slightly higher.

Following the cyclical down year in 2023, IC Insights forecasts semiconductor sales will rebound with three years of much stronger growth. By the end of the forecast period in 2026, semiconductor sales are forecast to climb to $843.6 billion, representing a CAGR of 6.5%.

In 2022, four major semiconductor product categories are forecast to post solid double-digit sales gains (Figure 2). The microcomponents and optoelectronics segments are expected to grow by single-digit amounts. Only the highly cyclical memory market is forecast to post a decline—a big -17% decline—that will weigh down overall IC and semiconductor market growth this year.

Figure 2

Report Details: The 2023 McClean Report

The 2023 edition of The McClean Report—A Complete Analysis and Forecast of the Semiconductor Industry, will be released in January 2023. A subscription to The McClean Report service includes the January Semiconductor Industry Flash Report, which provides clients with an initial overview and forecast of the semiconductor industry for 2023 through 2027. In addition to the January Semiconductor Industry Flash Report, Quarterly Updates to the report will be released in February, May, August, and November of 2023.

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