IC Market Forecasts Remain Positive

March 19, 2014
IC sales for personal computing systems set to rise following three years of declines.

IC Insights’ IC Market Drivers—A Study of Emerging and Major End-Use Applications Fueling Demand for Integrated Circuits report features data that forecast the IC market from 2012-2017. The largest market for ICs (integrated circuits) is personal computing systems—standard PCs, tablets, and Internet/cloud-computing laptops; that category will represent 27% of IC sales in 2014, at $78 billion, according to the report. Following three years of declines, that number is expected to increase 6% in 2015 to $82 billion and again in 2016 to $88 billion. IC Insights expects personal computing system IC sales to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.7% through 2017.

IC sales for personal computing systems were dragged down by declines in demand for standard desktop and laptop personal computers (PCs) following the 2010 recovery.  After increasing 27% in 2010, PC IC sales fell by 8%, 11%, and 8% from 2011 to 2013. This year, PC IC sales are expected to rise 3% in 2014, to $60 billion. PC IC sales are projected to fall by a CAGR of -0.4% to $62.1 billion in the final year of the forecast.

On the other hand, tablet sales have been increasing since 2011, when they reached $6.2 billion. In 2012, they increased by 73% to $11 billion, and again in 2013 by 37% to $15 billion. They are forecast to increase again in 2014 and 2015, by 20% and 10%, respectively. Between 2012 and 2017, tablet IC sales are projected to increase by a CAGR of 15% to $22 billion. Internet/cloud systems have also performed well, making $408 million in 2013 sales. They will increase by 37% to $558 million in 2014, and are expected to have a CAGR of 29% during 2012-2017—reaching $1.1 billion in 2017.

IC Insights’ report features IC industry projections by system type, region, and IC product type through 2017. It also evaluates existing and upcoming end-use applications that will support and advance the industry through 2017. These applications include the automotive market, cell phones, personal/mobile computing, wireless networks, and digital imaging.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Supply Chain Connect, create an account today!