Global revenue from mobile memory chips reached $2.07 billion in
the first quarter amid surging demand for smartphones and tablet
computers, according to market researcher IHS iSuppli.
First-quarter revenue from mobile dynamic random access memory
jumped 153% from a year earlier and rose 9.9% from the previous
quarter's $1.88 billion, the research firm said. The roughly $190
million sequential increase almost surpassed the entire mobile DRAM
market in the first quarter of 2009, a sign of how quickly the
mobile business has exploded.
The booming market for such chips contrasts with weakening
demand for the DRAM used in personal computers, which are beginning
to require less robust memory as leaner operating systems cut down
on hardware requirements. The overall PC market is also slowing as
consumers instead opt for mobile devices.
The average annual increase in DRAM for each new PC is expected
to reach a high growth point of 35% in 2012, but will slow down
after that, iSuppli projected.
Meanwhile, the proliferation of 8-gigabyte and 16-gigabyte
mobile memory chips in tablet computers is expected to boost mobile
DRAM densities by a factor of almost 14 over the next few years,
iSuppli said. The accelerating growth trajectory of tablet
shipments will also lead to surging DRAM unit shipments.
Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNHY, 005930.SE) was the top mobile
DRAM manufacturer in the first quarter with revenue of $1.13
billion, followed by Elpida Memory Inc. (6665.TO) with $434 million
and Hynix Semiconductor Inc.'s (000660.SE) $191 million.
-By Drew FitzGerald, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2909; Andrew.FitzGerald@dowjones.com