Chip sales up 6% in Q2

According to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), this marks the largest quarterly increase in three years. Regionally, sales in the Americas jumped 8.6% in Q2 compared to Q1 and 10.6% in June 2013 compared to June 2012, marking the region's largest year over year increase of 2013. "There's no question the global semiconductor industry has picked up steam through the first half of 2013, led largely by the Americas," said Brian Toohey, SIA president and ceo. "We have now seen consistent growth on a monthly, quarterly, and year to year basis, and sales totals have exceeded the latest industry projection, with sales of memory products showing particular strength." Regionally, sales in June increased compared to May in the Americas (3.5%), Asia Pacific (0.4%), and Europe (0.1%), but declined slightly in Japan (-0.9%). Compared to the same month in 2012, sales in June increased substantially in the Americas (10.6%), moderately in Asia Pacific (5.4%), and slightly in Europe (0.8%), but dropped steeply in Japan (-20.8%), largely due to the devaluation of the Japanese yen.