Semiconductor unit shipments are forecast to climb to 1,075.1 billion, which equates to 9% growth for the year.

Starting in 1978 with 32.6 billion units and going through 2018, the compound annual growth rate for semiconductor units is forecast to be 9.1%, a solid growth figure over the 40 year span.

Over the span of just four years (2004-2007), semiconductor shipments broke through the 400-, 500-, and 600-billion unit levels before the global financial meltdown caused a big decline in semiconductor unit shipments in 2008 and 2009.

Unit growth rebounded sharply with 25% growth in 2010 and displayed another strong increase in 2017 (14% growth) to climb past the 900-billion level.

The largest annual increase in semiconductor unit growth during the timespan shown was 34% in 1984, and the biggest decline was 19% in 2001 following the dot-com bust.

The global financial meltdown and ensuing recession caused semiconductor shipments to fall in both 2008 and 2009; the only time that the industry experienced consecutive years in which unit shipments declined.

The 25% increase in 2010 was the second-highest growth rate across the time span.

The percentage split of total semiconductor shipments is forecast to remain weighted toward O-S-D devices.

In 2018, O-S-D devices are forecast to account for 70% of total semiconductor units compared to 30% for ICs.

Thirty-eight years ago in 1980, O-S-D devices accounted for 78% of semiconductor units and ICs represented 22% .

 

.lSome of the fast-growing IC unit categories for 2018 include:

Industrial/Other—Application-Specific Analog (26% increase);

Consumer—Special Purpose Logic (22% growth);

Industrial/Other—Special Purpose Logic, (22%);

32-bit MCUs (21%);

Wireless Communication—Application-Specific Analog (18%);

and Auto—Application-Specific Analog (17%). Ml

Among O-S-D devices, CCDs and CMOS image sensors, laser transmitters, and every type of sensor product (magnetic, acceleration and yaw, pressure, and other sensors) are expected to enjoy double-digit unit growth this year.