1997-04-18 , ESC-9722

Dataquest's recently released final figures for the performance of semiconductor companies in 1996 show that Philips Semiconductors has dramatically improved its position in the Asia Pacific region.

Dataquest's statistics show that Philips Semiconductors moved from tenth to fifth position in the Asia Pacific region, increasing market share to 4.9%. Dataquest also reported an impressive 31.3% growth for the company in this region compared with the average decrease of 8.4%. Philips Semiconductors was one of only three semiconductor companies in the region's top 20 to show a growth in 1996 revenues.

In Japan the company also improved its position from 34 to 29 and increased market share to 0.4%. Philips Semiconductors was again one of the few companies to show a growth in Japan in 1996, in this case a healthy 21.1%, against the average decline of 8.3%, according to Dataquest's figures.

Arthur van der Poel, Chief Executive of Philips Semiconductors, said the success resulted from the company's long term commitment to the region over many years.

"We have manufacturing resources in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan, and a dozen Product Support and Application Laboratories in the region", he said.

"We also have a very good product portfolio that matches the needs of customers in this region," he added, "in particular, for consumer, mass storage and mobile communications."

"Having Europe as a home base means that we are used to doing business with people with different cultures and languages," he explained. "This is vital for a global company dealing closely at all stages of business with global customers. It is obvious that South East Asia has developed to a market in its own right, and we feel privileged that we can share in the success of the Asian companies."

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Philips Electronics NV, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the ninth largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs.