Seminconductor market to grow 18% in 2004

From this year to 2008, IDC predicts that the semiconductor market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.5%, with revenue rising from US$160 billion this year to US$282 billion in 2008. China, the world's largest consumer of mobile phones and second largest consumer of PCs, will continue to drive mobile phone semiconductor and PC semiconductor growth. Mainland Chinese semiconductor demand currently represents over one quarter of the US$60 billion total for Asia Pacific and will account for almost half of the entire region by the end of 2008, IDC's Vice President of semiconductor research Mario Morales said in a statement.