2005 turned out to be a very good year for the semiconductor industry. Despite record energy prices and an unprecedented series of natural disasters, worldwide demand for semiconductors increased in all end markets. Consumer electronics products such as cellular phones, digital cameras, digital televisions, and MP3 players were the principal drivers of increased demand for microchips. Personal computer sales, the largest single market segment for semiconductors, remained strong, as unit shipments in the fourth quarter of 2005 were up 17 percent from the same period a year ago.
|