The trade association ZVEI -Fachverband Electronic Components and Systems expects that the German semiconductor market will grow by 5% to almost 12 bn Euro in 2007. This increase is based on a double-figure growth in turnover in the segments of discrete components, opto-semiconductors and sensors, whereby the ICs will probably grow by 4%. The association reports that the slight decline of the German semiconductor market of 3.1% (on a Europe basis) in 2006 is largely due to the price collapse of processors and the associated reduction in turnover of the ICs of 6.7%. A change in trend can be seen in the discrete components, opto-semiconductor and sensors/actuators in Germany. After a drop in 2005, there was a growth of turnover of 6.6% in the past year. This will probably grow by another 12% in 2007. However, ICs in 2006 showed a decline of 6.7%. For 2007 the ZVEI expects a recovery here with a 4% growth.
According to the ZVEI, the positive development of the automotive user segment has continued with an increase of turnover of 12% in 2006 after a rise of 3.6% in the previous year. Its market share in Germany is now 32%. Also for this segment of the industry, the growth in business in the past year with a rise in turnover of 10%, to 14% market share has run very well – after a decline of 7.6% in the previous year. The cause of this is seen by the association in the increasing demand in the chip card field.
Data technology in 2006 suffered a decline in turnover of 14% after a growth of 13.1% the year before. Its market share is now 30%. The market share of the communication segment has declined due to a reduced turnover of 5% to 21%. Despite a lower growth in turnover of 1% in consumer electronics, it has only lost 0.1% in market share. This development shows that the previous stable conditions of the market segments of the German market is shifting more and more in the direction of the automotive industry, according to the ZVEI.
