[PConline News] When memory chips become the top-performing financial product of the year, the semiconductor industry is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation. In the first quarter of last year, Intel's revenue was 40% higher than Samsung's. But just one year later, the Blue Giant found itself outpaced by DRAM and NAND memory markets.
In the second quarter of this year, Samsung made history by becoming the world’s top semiconductor company in terms of sales (excluding pure wafer foundries), surpassing Intel for the first time since 1993. According to IC Insights, Samsung is expected to generate $4.6 billion more in annual sales than Intel.
Samsung has poured $26 billion into semiconductor equipment this year, accounting for 29% of total industry investments. Specifically, the company invested $14 billion in 3D NAND Flash, $7 billion in DRAM, and $5 billion in chip foundry operations.
In 1993, Intel was the world's largest semiconductor supplier with a market share of 9.2%. At that time, Samsung ranked seventh, with a modest 3.8% share. By 2006, Intel still held the top spot with 11.8%, while Samsung climbed to second place with 7.3%.
Fast forward to 2017, Intel’s market share dropped slightly from 15.6% to 13.9%, while Samsung’s grew from 12.1% to 15.0%. This shift signals a dramatic change in the competitive landscape of the semiconductor industry.
This holiday season, it seems memory is the only gift that’s truly in demand. For more insights and updates on this evolving story, stay tuned for our continued coverage on PConline.
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