The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached US$26.9 billion for the month of January 2016, 2.7% lower than the previous month's total of US$27.6 billion and 5.8% down from the January 2015 total of US$28.5 billion.

Sales into the Americas were particularly sluggish, decreasing 5.9% month-to-month and 16.9% year-to-year, said SIA. All monthly sales numbers are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization and represent a three-month moving average.

"Global semiconductor sales decreased in January across most regional markets and product categories, largely due to softening demand and lingering macroeconomic headwinds," said John Neuffer, president and CEO of SIA. "Despite these challenges, modest market growth is projected for 2016, following essentially flat sales last year."

Semiconductor sales in China decreased 0.4% on month but increased 4.3 from a year ago in February 2016, while sales in all other regions registered sequentialy and on year declines: Europe (-1.7%/-7.7%), Japan (-3.3%/-5.1%), Asia Pacific/All Other (-2.8%/-6.5%), and the Americas (-5.9%/-16.9%).

Sales also decreased across most major semiconductor product categories, with the notable exception of microprocessors, which increased year-to-year by 2.1%, according to SIA.