Tanking DRAM prices dragged down worldwide chip sales in May, latest Semiconductor Industry Association figures show.

Total sales hit $18.05bn in May, down 0.5 per cent on the previous month, but up 4 per cent on the year. While surging cellphone sales boosted shipments of related chips, DRAM prices dropped 6 per cent sequentially, denting sales overall.

Asia Pacific was the only market that showed sequential growth, with sales of $8.94bn, up 1.8 per cent on the month and 11.1 per cent on the year. The Americas had sales of $3.2bn, down 0.7 per cent sequentially, and up 0.2 per cent on the year. European sales were $3.19bn, down 3.9 per cent sequentially, and up 0.1 per cent on the year, while Japan’s sales, at $3.62bn, were down 2.2 per cent sequentially, and down 2.7 per cent on the year.

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