Chip sales worldwide reach record levels

Global chip sales achieved a world record high in the month of November, continuing the recent resurgence in the semiconductor industry.

According to a report from the US-based Semicondustor Industry Association sales reached a value of $14.2bn across the world, an increase of almost $1bn from October's value. This represents an increase of over 25 per cent on the same month the previous year.

The rise is due to a leap in sales of memory chips, particularly flash memory chips which hold information even when the power is switched off. These are used in the new breed of digital cameras and media players.

Sales were strongest in Asia and Japan, growing almost 40 per cent on last year, whilst growth in Europe reached only 10.8 per cent.