Semiconductor Industry Association

Semiconductor sales worldwide rose more than 50% in the first half of the year, the Semiconductor Industry Association announced Monday, but investors shouldn't assume that implies a slam dunk for the second half.

Thanks to strong growth in India and China, chip sales could jump 28.4% in 2010, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association's mid-year report. However, growth will slow dramatically in 2011 and 2012, the SIA predicts.

Semiconductor sales rose 2.2% in April from the month before, bringing in $23.6 billion in sales and surpassing the November 2007 record, according to the closely watched Semiconductor Industry Association monthly report released Tuesday.

Semiconductor sales hit $23.1 billion in March, further solidifying the industry's growth after a brutal downturn a year ago, according to the closely watched Semiconductor Industry Association report. It was the second-best period on record after November 2007.

Despite a 1.3% sequential decline in worldwide chip sales to $22 billion in February, the Semiconductor Industry Association reaffirmed the possibility for better performance overall this year compared with its forecast in November.