Big gains in artificial intelligence, machine learning, 5G infrastructure provide strong boost to sales growth at AMD, MediaTek, Nvidia, and Qualcomm this year; declines for Intel and Sony.

IC Insights’ November Update to The McClean Report was recently released.  Included in the update were several year-end forecasts for semiconductor sales, capex, and a ranking of top sales leaders. Among the data was IC Insights’ projected ranking of the top 25 semiconductor suppliers ranked by sales growth rate.

The semiconductor market is forecast to increase 23% this year, fueled by changing habits caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic rebound from it in 2021.  A strong 20% increase in semiconductor unit shipments coupled with a 3% increase in the total semiconductor average selling price (ASP) is driving this growth.  An increase of 23% would be the largest gain in the global semiconductor market since 2010 when semiconductor sales soared 34% following the financial meltdown and global recession in 2008 and 2009.

(more…)

DRAM buyers cautious about placing significant orders; opting instead to keep inventory in check.

DRAM prices soared 41% through the first eight months of 2021, rising from $3.37 in January to $4.77 in August. September’s DRAM ASP slipped 3% to $4.62, which still was a 37% increase from the beginning of the year (Figure 1). Such a strong price increase and market rebound were expected in 2020 following a very difficult year in 2019 when the DRAM average selling price (ASP) fell 44%.  But major challenges—chief among them, the global Covid-19 pandemic—clouded and disrupted the market for DRAM in 2020.
(more…)