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NOR & NAND Flash go different ways in 2005, says IC Insights |
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Mar 29, 2006 at 09:40 AM |
 IC Insights has released figures for the Flash memory market within its March Update McClean Report as well as providing the top ten chip manufacturer rankings and market share positions within this memory sector for 2005.
According to the research firm, NOR and NAND Flash went their separate paths in 2005 with NOR declining 13 percent to $8.0 billion, while the NAND segment grew 64 percent to $10.6 billion.
Flash memory sales as a combined segment increased 19 percent overall from 2004, reaching $18.6 billion US dollars in sales in 2005.
Unit shipments also told a contrasting story. In 2005, unit shipments of NOR flash increased 9 percent to 4.1 billion, while shipments of NAND devices increased by 88 percent to 1.2 billion!
No surprises then as to the leading NAND Flash producer, Samsung, which grew flash sales by 47 percent reaching nearly $6.6 billion US dollars in sales. The figures were boosted in the second half of the year with contracts to supply Apple of course.
Toshiba's NAND flash sales also increased in 2005 and showed a 13 percent rise to $2.5 billion but a 13 percent market share for the year was down one point from 2004.
Hynix Semiconductor enjoyed one of the fastest flash sales growth rates in 2005, according to the market research firm as it shifted significant capacity at its 200mm fabs from DRAM production to NAND Falsh. This enabled the Korean memory producer to generate $1.26 billion in sales, which were only $220 million in 2004!
The fight for NOR market share between Intel and Spansion continued throughout 2005 and price erosion was a key reason for the 13 percent decline in revenues for the sector. Intel also regained the number one spot from Spansion with sales reaching $2.2 billion against Spansion's $1.9 billion. Intel did not see a change in market share figures for 2005 compared to 2004, however Spansion would seem to be the victim with an 18 percent decline!
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