NEW YORK (voa) – Worldwide sales of computer chips plummeted 35 percent in February compared to the same month last year. A spokesman for the Semiconductor Industry Association said Friday that global sales were slightly more than $10 billion, compared to nearly $15.5 billion in February 2001.
Sales were flat in January, as growth in the Asia Pacific and Western Hemisphere markets was offset by a dip in Europe and Japan.
The spokesman also said the industry is expecting second quarter sales to improve, leading to stronger sales in the second half of the year.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has eased a ban on computer chip investments in China after imposing conditions to ensure the supremacy of its industry over the mainland.
Under a proposal announced Friday, microchip firms would be allowed to make 200 millimeter integrated circuit wafers in China after mass production of more advanced 300 millimeter wafers has begun in Taiwan.
The agreement also limits Taiwanese firms to three plants on the mainland by 2005, and requires those factories to use old equipment from plants in Taiwan.
