Electronica: NXP's CEO sees tough year ahead

MUNICH, Germany – Next year could be a tough year for the overall semiconductor market with low single-digit percentage growth, according to Rick Clemmer, CEO of NXP Semiconductors NV.

Clemmer gave his opinion during a panel discussion during the first day of the Electronica exhibition here. He spoke in response to a question from the floor about the outlook for the market. "Next year could be a tough year, a mid-to-low single digit percentage increase in semiconductor sales," he said. "Typically in the U.S. the year after an election is not good." At the same time Europe is coping with its own financial problems, Clemmer said. "China is the key to world's economy."

However, Clemmer said a mid-to-low single-digit percentage increase in 2013 was in line with an intermediate-term perspective of high-single-digit or low double-digit percentage growth that he feels the semiconductor market can produce. The other panelists did not give any firm opinion but nor did they demur about what Clemmer had said.


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