Revenue Growth in China's Semiconductor Industry to Drop 16.2% in 2019
January 23, 2019 | TrendForceEstimated reading time: 1 minute

According to the latest report by TrendForce - Breakdown Analysis of China’s Semiconductor Industry, the outlook for China’s semiconductor industry has been tampered since the second half of 2018 due to pessimistic economy worldwide and uncertainties brought by the China-U.S. trade war, although the industry managed to reach a total revenue of over 600 billion RMB in 2018. Looking ahead to 2019, the revenue of China's semiconductor industry is expected to reach RMB 729.8 billion, but the annual growth rate would slow down to 16.20%, the lowest in the past five years.
According to Jeter Teo, Research Director at TrendForce, there would be several challenges for China's semiconductor industry in the coming year, including the global economic slowdown, the overall weak demand, the negative growth in global smartphone production volume, as well as the continued trade conflicts between China and the United States.
However, as the Chinese government continues to seek self-sufficiency of chips and aims at reducing its dependence on foreign companies, the domestic semiconductor industry will keep growing. On the other hand, new applications will trigger increasing demand for semiconductors, driven by emerging technologies like AI, 5G, autonomous driving, electric vehicles, CIS, biometric recognition, Internet of Things, and edge computing.
It is worth noting that, recent years have seen the rise of China's domestic IC design industry, which has played a key role in leading the development of China's semiconductor industry. The industrial structure has continued to be optimized as well. For 2019, the sector of IC design is expected to account for 40.62% of China's semiconductor industry, while IC manufacturing would account for 28.68%, IC testing and packaging would take about 30.7%.
On the other hand, TrendForce’s data show that key sectors of the semiconductor industry are expected to register continued growth in revenue, with the growth rate of IC manufacturing reaching 18.58%, higher than 17.86% of IC design and 12% of IC testing and packaging. More than 10 new fabs for 12-inch wafer will enter production in China in 2019, while some 8-inch wafer fabs and the power semiconductor sector anticipate production expansion.
Suggested Items
Horizon Sales Celebrates 10 Years of Exceptional Service by Sales Leader David Smith
07/02/2025 | Horizon SalesHorizon Sales, a premier manufacturers’ representative and distributor for the electronics assembly industry, is proud to announce that David Smith is celebrating 10 years with the company this month.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/27/2025 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007While news outside our industry keeps our attention occupied, the big news inside the industry is the rechristening of IPC as the Global Electronics Association. My must-reads begins with Marcy LaRont’s exclusive and informative interview with Dr. John Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. For designers, have we finally reached the point in time where autorouters will fulfill their potential?
Reflections and Priorities: An Update to I-Connect007 Readers
06/24/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007The electronics and manufacturing industry is evolving rapidly—with new technologies, deeper global connections, and a growing drive toward sustainability. To reflect these changes and our place in this dynamic space, we’re refreshing our brand.
The Knowledge Base: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow With EMAC
06/24/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseAs the electronics manufacturing industry races to meet rising global demand and technological complexity, the need for a highly skilled, future-ready workforce has never been greater. At the forefront of addressing this challenge is The Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly Collaborative (EMAC)—a national initiative dedicated to strengthening the talent pipeline through strategic collaboration with SMTA, education, and government stakeholders.
IPC Rebrands as Global Electronics Association: Interview With Dr. John W. Mitchell
06/22/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Today, following a major announcement, IPC is embracing the rapid advancement of technology with a bold decision to change its name to the Global Electronics Association. This name more accurately reflects the full breadth of its work and the modern realities of electronics manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, Global Electronics Association President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell shares the story behind the rebrand: Why now, what it means for the industry, and how it aligns with the organization’s mission.