Data from the Distributors’ and Manufacturers’ Association of Semiconductor Specialists (DMASS) revealed an increase of 33.2 per cent over the first quarter of 2010 with sales revenue reaching €1.35 billion (£1.15 billion).
This followed a sharp drop in sales of 24 per cent in the final three months of 2009 and DMASS chairman Georg Steinberger said he had never witnessed such a fast rebound in 25 years of analysing the continent's semiconductor industry.
He characterised the sector performance as one of "crash to cash" in 15 months and after getting back towards 2008 levels, the expert hinted that recent growth could yet match records set in 2007.
"Our hopes are that the dynamics are returning to the market in general and that distribution will continue to expand its position with the entire market scenario," he added.
DMASS is a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind to collate data on the European market for quarterly reports.
