European components distribution reported massive growth in the fourth quarter and for the full year 2021, with sales figures setting new all-time highs. Semiconductor sales, as reported by the members of DMASS, grew 39,4% year-over-year for the fourth quarter of 2021 (4Q21) to reach a new record level of 2,62 billion Euros. IP&E; (interconnect, passive and electromechanical) components grew by 39,5% over the same quarter to 1,13 billion Euros, also a new record. In total, across all components, distribution sales in 2021 grew by 25,4% to over 13,9 billion Euros.
Hermann Reiter, chairman of DMASS: “We have seen similar or higher growth rates in distribution in the past, but the sales levels we have achieved in 2021 are unprecedented. Considering that the pressure in the components market is still on – represented by extremely high bookings, huge backlogs and lead-times well into 2023 – our optimism for the new year is accompanied by some concern about the effects of the shortage on the growth rates of our customers. While growth opportunities are huge, so are the accumulated risks (like double ordering) and potential new ones (further Covid-related supply chain disruptions and geopolitical conflicts).”
Semiconductors
The different regions and countries across Europe experienced a spectrum of growth rates in 4Q21, spanning 16% to 55%. The major countries, however, ended up in the same ballpark: Germany grew by 44,4% to 707 million Euros, Eastern Europe by 30,5% to 467 million Euros, Italy by 50,9% to 233 million Euros, France by 43% to 170 million Euros and the UK by 42,8% to 174 million Euros. Annually, almost all countries grew by a healthy double-digit percentage.
Product and product group-wise, memories were the fastest growing semiconductor product group in 4Q21, with an increase of 64,3% to 284 million Euros, followed by discrete components with 54,9% growth and total resales of 155 million Euros. The major product groups, analog and MOS micro, grew by 39,3% and 34,5%, respectively, to 729 million Euros and 517 million Euros. Power, sensors and standard logic remained above average with opto, other logic and programmable logic below average. For the full year, the big winners were discretes, memories, sensors and power devices.
Interconnect, passive and electromechanical components
Interconnect, passive and electromechanical (IP&E) components showed close parallels to semiconductors and even outgrew them on an annual level. An annual growth of 32,1% to 4,36 billion Euros represents a new record since the start of IP&E; reporting. In 4Q21, IP&E; grew by 39,5% to 1,13 billion Euros. Regional growth was evenly spread, except for a trailing Russia.
Drilling down to the individual component groups, passives remained the biggest group, with an increase of 40,6% to 534 million Euros, followed closely by electromechanical products (including connectors) which grew by 38,7% to 525 million Euros. Power supplies (including batteries), the smallest group, remained steady at 36,9% growth and 68 million Euros turnover. At an annual level, both passives and electromechanical showed a balanced growth performance.
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