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IC Probe card market in near-term decline, says VLSI Research
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A new report from VLSI Research notes that probe card market revenues are not expected to recover 2007 levels in the next five years. Lower levels of IC production coupled to subdued demand for Memory test probe cards are behind the pessimistic forecast.
According to VLSI Research, probe card revenues declined by 26.9% in 2008 compared to a 4.2% decline in IC sales. In 2009, sales of probe cards, including spares and service, are forecast to decline by 24.5% to only US$0.77B, down from US$1.0B in 2008. This compares to nearly US$1.4B in revenues in 2007, the market research firm said. The market is now expected to reach US$1.5B by 2013.
FormFactor (USA), Micronics Japan Co. (MJC - Japan), and JEM (Japan) maintained their lead at the top of the supplier ranking, while SV Probe (USA) climbed into the 4th position, up from 5th in 2007. Technoprobe (Italy) jumped to 5th place from 7th last year.
Those that had more exposure to the memory markets saw their positions in the ranking decline, VLSI Research said.
