Semiconductors remain export powerhouse for US

Semiconductors continue to be a massive export product for the United States, according to recently released government export statistics for 2015, fuelling US jobs, economic growth and innovation.

The total value of US semiconductor exports in 2015 was $41.8 billion, which amounts to the third-highest of any manufactured export product. The combination of strong domestic production and foreign markets hungry for semiconductors led once again to semiconductors ranking as one of America’s leading exports in 2015.

Semiconductors also continued to be the number one electronics product export in 2015, ahead of other products such as computer equipment, telephones and communications equipment.

One reason why semiconductors have maintained the leading position is that the United States remains a top location for US semiconductor manufacturing. As highlighted in SIA’s white paper, Made in America: The Facts about Semiconductor Manufacturing, US semiconductor companies do the majority of their high value-added front-end fabrication in the United States. Another reason US semiconductor exports remain so high is because 83% of sales of US semiconductor companies in 2015 were outside of the United States.

SIA is working with policymakers on such issues as corporate tax reform and funding for precompetitive basic research to ensure innovation and high-tech manufacturing grows and stays in America.