Global semiconductor market turnover drops by 20% through March and supply starts to outpace demand

According to data from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics Organization (WSTS), The bill for semiconductor companies is $119.5 billion (111.000 million euros) in the world during the first quarter of 2023, which is 8.7% less than the period between October and December 2022 and 21.3% lower year-on-year.

Hence, it is Third quarter of consecutive declines that restrict this market, after it contracted 3% in the summer, and between October and December 14.3%, Because of the “cyclical nature and macroeconomic difficulties”As stated by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

Some characters that The sector leaves behind the good dynamics it recorded after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic This led to it reaching an all-time high in sales and units shipped during 2021 despite the supply-demand mismatch causing a global shortage of semiconductors.

however, The sector remains above pre-pandemic levelssince sales for the first quarter of 2023 were 23.5% higher than the same period in 2019.

After two exercisesThe global semiconductor shortage has caused problems for many industriesthe current scenario is completely different, since then Short-term supply began to outpace demandAccording to many technology consulting.

Among the reasons for this change in direction, IDC points out Low demand for hardware – With sales of laptops or mobile phones falling by a factor of two – and Increasing stock levels.

This oversupply will “lower chip prices” and “accelerate market decline” by 2023, According to the consulting firm Gartner, while Deloitte asserts, in the same vein, that prices for high-end memories “have fallen by 50% in the past year” in the context of the huge loss of capitalization in this market, according to the Efe agency.

Indeed, these advisories confirm it The global chip industry is experiencing a shortage and an oversupply at the same timeBecause while most of the supply chain for mobile chipsets, PCs, and data centers has returned to “normal delivery times,” In other sectors – such as the auto industry – it continues to suffer from “serious shortages”.

Because of this, IDC expects the industry to decline by 5.3% in 2023, Gartner expects it to decline by 3.6% to $596,000 million, and for a decline of 4.1% to $557,000 million.

A context on a global scale that the results of large companies are already beginning to reflect. This is the situation Samsung Electronicswhose sales fell 18% to 63.75 trillion won (about 45.5 billion euros), prompting the company to announce that it would cut its chip production “by a significant level” to adjust inventories.

Together with Samsung, earnings from Intel It fell by 36% in the first quarter of 2023, to $11,715 million (about 10,900 million euros).

In contrast , Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC)the world’s largest chip maker, had a 3% turnover in the first three months of the year, to NT$508,633 million (€15,159 million), although its turnover was nearly 19% lower than that recorded. in the previous quarter.

Despite the current situation, the consulting firms IDC, Gartner and WSTS agree thatThe market will return to the growth path in 2024.

An opinion shared by the High Commissioner for Bertie Chip, Josep Martorellwho stressed in a law at the beginning of the week that the forecast that demand for it will double by 2030 “is still valid,” because these short-term cycles are “a feature of the industry.”

thus, Martorell believes Europe should “quadruple” its current chip capacity Which, in the case of Spain, was launched the microelectronics and semiconductor part, known as Perte Chip.

This strategic project, the first calls for which have already been launched, has a A public investment of €12,250 million until 2027 One of its goals is to attract “one or two” semiconductor factories to Spain.