DRAM revenue up 42 percent in Q4 2009

Posted on Friday, January 29 2010 @ 20:43 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
DRAMeXchange reports DRAM memory makers saw their revenue climb by 42 percent in Q4 2009, following a 40 percent revenue growth in Q3 2009. Here's the press release:
-According to DRAMeXchange, 4Q09 revenue has grown 42% due to the hiking DRAM average price and output enhancement, which has shown another progress after 40% revenue growth 3Q09. With the windows 7 launch in end of Oct. and recovering macro-economy, demand in 4Q09 has outperformed our expectation. DDR2 still remained its mainstream memory standard in 4Q09 that demand is much stronger than DDR3 since demand for middle/entry level models looks good. That is, DDR2 shortage happened in 4Q09 and resulted in the up climbing DDR2 contract price in Oct. & Nov. as well as stable pricing level in Dec. Based on we DRAMeXchange check, DDR2 average contract price has sharply raised 61% in 4Q09 while spot price also climbed 68%.

Despite of less shortage impact for DDR3, still DDR3 contract price raised along with the DDR2 that DDR3 contract price increased 40% and 30% for spot price. Regarding to output capacity, 4Q09 DRAM supply bit growth rate is up 20% given the continuous technology migration and pulling-up utilization rate from Taiwanese vendors.

Given the boosting DRAM price and output, DRAM vendors recorded the satisfactory revenue growth in 4Q09. PSC has largely outperformed market average by showing 111.6% revenue growth, followed by Elpida with 63.9% revenue growth.

According to DRAMeXchange, 4Q09 revenue has grown 42% QoQ to USD$8,682M due to the hiking DRAM price and hot PC sales. Despite of 8” fabs phase out, Samsung, the market leader, recorded USD$2,750M quarterly revenue with 26.5% QoQ given the technology migration 50 nm from 40nm, 18% QoQ bit growth and upward DRAM pricing trend. Its leading market share has slightly declined 3.9% to 31.7% due to the below-average revenue grwoth. 4Q09 Hynix DRAM sales rose 42% to US$ 1,871M given the 26% average price growth, 12% quarterly bit growth. Currently Hynix ranks as 2nd place.


Elpida recorded 4Q09 revenue in US$1,680M with 63.9% QoQ benefited from 30% upward DRAM quarterly average price and 30% bit growth. Elpida has strengthened its 3rd market leading position. For the different accounting period (4Q for Micron is Sep., Oct. and Nov.) it applied, contract price rose 21% compared with last periods (Jun., Jul. and Aug.). Benefited from the price and 25% QoQ shipment enhancement in this quarter, Micron recorded US$1,057M quarterly revenue with 50%QoQ revenue growth. Micron grabbed 4th place in the ranking.

As for Taiwanese vendors, Nanya ranks 5th post along with US$496M DRAM revenue and 48.7% QoQ given the upward pricing trend in average quarterly price(44%) and 2% quarterly shipment growth. Benefited from the boosting 68% DDR2 spot price and 45% supply growth rate, PSC shows the amazing 111.6% revenue growth in 4Q09 and market share has increased 1.5% to 4.7%. PSC has shortened the market share gap with Nanya in 4Q09. Winbond announced its 4Q09 DRAM revenue in US$166M with 13.5%QoQ revenue while recorded 1.9% market share. Benefited from the increasing utilization rate to 50% from 21% in 3Q09, ProMOS recorded 27.9% QoQ revenue growth.

The Korean vendor’s share has declined 4.2% to 53.8% in 4Q09 since other vendors indicate higher revenue growth. Japanese vendors’ share has increased 2.6% to 19.6%. Benefited from the sales boosting (111.6%) of PSC, Taiwanese vendors shares has raised 1% to 14.3%. American vendors share increased 0.6% to 12.3%.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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