The forecast is a revision from the 16 percent originally estimated in April and was prompted by robust growth in the second half of 2003.

Its growth forecast for this year was sharply revised from 9.0 percent to 14 percent.

Over a five-year period from 2003, the research house expects the semiconductor market to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 12.5 percent, with revenues seen rising to 282 billion dollars in 2008 from 160 billion dollars this year.

"As 2003 closes, growth expectations for the semiconductor market are on the rise, particularly after a very strong recovery in the second half of the year," the technology research house said in a statement.

"Stronger-than-expected mobile phone and PC shipments have stabilized average selling prices and increased capacity utilization rates among suppliers," it said.

It said sales of mobile phones and computers should grow at double-digit rates this year and next.

The Asia-Pacific dominates the global production and demand for mobile phones and computers, with China the main driver.

Semiconductor demand in China represents over one quarter of the 60 billion-dollar Asia-Pacific market and the world's most populous nation is expected to account for almost half of this by 2008.

SPACE.WIRE