Worldwide semiconductor sales for 2012 reached US$291.6 billion, the industry's third-highest yearly total ever but a decrease of 2.7% from the record total of US$299.5 billion set in 2011, according to data gathered by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA).

The total chip sales for 2012 narrowly beat expectations from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization's industry forecast, SIA indicated.

Semiconductor sales for December 2012 came to US$24.7 billion, down 3% from the previous month when sales were US$25.5 billion, SIA disclosed. Sales for the fourth quarter arrived at US$74.2 billion, a 3.8% increase from the US$71.5 billion reported for the fourth quarter of 2011.

"Despite substantial macroeconomic challenges, the global semiconductor industry outperformed forecasts and posted one of its highest yearly sales totals in 2012," said Brian Toohey, president and CEO of SIA. "Recent momentum, led by strength in the Americas, has the industry well-positioned for a successful 2013."

Logic was the largest semiconductor category in 2012 reaching US$81.7 billion, up 3.7%. MOS microprocessors (US$60.2 billion) and memory (US$57 billion) rounded out the top three segments, but both lagged behind 2011 sales totals. Optoelectronics was the fastest growing market on a yearly basis, rising 13.4% in 2012 to reach US$26.2 billion for the year. Meanwhile, the NAND flash market segment grew at the second-fastest rate of 4.1% to reach US$25.4 billion in 2012.

Regionally, the Americas continued to show signs of strength, increasing sales by 13.4% in December 2012 compared to December 2011 and by 12% in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2012, but ongoing economic and policy uncertainty continues to pose risks to the near-term market outlook. Sales in Asia Pacific during December also increased compared to the same month in 2011, while sales in Europe and Japan decreased over the same period. Total yearly sales in all four regions were lower in 2012 than 2011, with Asia Pacific and the Americas seeing the smallest declines.

"Despite lingering economic and policy uncertainty, the US semiconductor market continues to show signs of strength, posting impressive growth in December," continued Toohey. "As the foundation of all modern electronics, semiconductors are critical to America's economic strength, national security and global competitiveness. By enacting measures that foster growth and remove uncertainty, policymakers can further strengthen the industry and help unlock its full potential in 2013 and beyond."