DMASS, which claims a coverage of 80 per cent of the European DTAM, reported surprisingly strong semiconductor sales and normalising sales in IP&E (Interconnect, Passive and Electromechanical) components amounting to reported revenues of 5.03 billion Euro in Q4, which was 27.8% above last year’s Q4.
Semiconductors topped a record Q3 and finished at 3.62 billion Euro sales, while IP&E ended at 1.41 billion Euro or 7.9% above Q4 last year.
In total, companies represented in DMASS reported consolidated components revenues of 19.5 billion Euro for 2022, an increase of 32.6% over 2021.
Commenting Hermann Reiter, chairman of DMASS, said “While we are certainly happy about record numbers, we more importantly feel a general relief that availability is improving – although not for all products – and customers will see their demands being met now to a large extent.
“Q4 numbers were an all-time record for semiconductor distribution, a stark contrast to what can be seen in the overall market at the moment.
“While in 2021 volume and sales growth were nearly balanced, last year saw a mix of price increases and exchange rate effects as well. In total, the share of distribution in the components market has gone up significantly, considering that the total components market in Europe grew at a much slower pace.”
Breaking the figures down in more detail, semiconductors growth in Q4 amounted to 37.7%. At a country/regional level, the numbers varied significantly, from -97% in Russia to +53% in Switzerland.
Major regions grew as follows: Germany by +49.6% to 1.06 billion Euro; Italy by 34.7% to 316 million Euro; France by +41.9% to 243 million Euro; UK by 30.4% to 227 million Euro; Eastern Europe by 39.9% to 659 million Euro and Nordic by 46.4% to 311 million Euro.
Significantly above average results were recorded in Switzerland, Austria, Iberia and Turkey, at or below average in Benelux, Israel and Ireland.
At product level, by far the biggest growth occurred in Programmable Logic, Other Logic (ASSPs) and MOS Micro, while Analogue products hit the average and all other areas showed signs of normalisation (Discrete, Power, Memories and Sensors) or outright disappointment (Opto).
At a more detailed level, the results for Q4 varied significantly, from -6% in LEDs to the aforementioned 107% plus in Programmable Logic. Major Product Groups developed as follows: Analogue +38.1% to 1.01 billion Euro; MOS Micro by +50% to 775 million Euro; Power by +24.2% to 402 million Euro; Memories by +25% to 356 million Euro; Programmable Logic by +107.4% to 287 million Euro; Other Logic by +73.7% to 240 million Euro; Opto by +2.8% to 232 million Euro; Discretes by +10.3% to 175 million Euro and Sensors by 26.1% to 99 million Euro.
Notably, high-end MCUs overtook Power Management as the biggest product category.
Interconnect, Passive and Electromechanical (IP&E) components again grew at a slower – normal – pace in Q4/22.
Sales ended at 1.41 billion Euro or 7.9% plus compared to Q4 one year ago. At country level, growth rates varied significantly: Germany grew by 8% to 352 million Euro; Eastern Europe by 10.4% to 191 million Euro; the UK by 15.9% to 142 million Euro, Italy only by 1.6% to 137 million Euro; France by 9.9% to 125 million Euro and Nordic by 12.6% to 130 million Euro.
Product-wise, Electromechanical products grew by 8.7% to 747 million Euro, Passives by 5% to 572 million Euro and Power Supplies by 22% to 93 million Euro.
“Admittedly, the last 2 years have been extremely positive from a growth perspective but very challenging through a prolonged allocation, with some products still in short supply today. 2023 promises some relief here, but the overall economic and political signs are anything but predictable or plannable,” said Reiter. He continued, “In our opinion, distribution has done a maximum of support for customers and increased and accelerated deliveries as much as possible, as well as created more possibilities to exchange data digitally in much faster fashion. This is maybe the key reason why customers have chosen distribution over direct and helped us increase the DTAM to new record levels.”
