RP electronics set to grow 10%

RP electronics set to grow 10%

MANILA: Philippine electronics exports are expected to grow 10
percent in fiscal 2003 from a year earlier to US$26 billion
despite a decline in global demand for microchips and wireless
products, an industry grouping said on Saturday.

The semiconductor and electronics data processing sectors, the
two major electronics exports segments, however, "are
experiencing difficult times," the Semiconductor and Electronics
Industries in the Philippines (SEIPI) said.

Semiconductors, which account for 71 percent of total
Philippine electronics exports, recorded a mere 2.16 percent
growth in April from a year ago, while the data-processing sector
fell 12.19 percent year-on-year, it said.

"The major semiconductor products are digital signal
processors (dsp) and microprocessors. The DSP market is affected
by a decline in global demand for wireless products," the group
said.

"The microprocessor market is affected by the delay in the
replacement of personal computers by consumers," it added, noting
that a global weakness in economies has forced many households to
hold on to three-to-four year-old PCs. -- AFP