IC Insights has released its ranking of the worldwide top 15 semiconductor suppliers for the first half of this year. As shown, pure-play foundry TSMC, which ranked eighth in the full-year 2005 listing, moved into the fourth position in 1H06. Further illustrating the success of the foundry business model, for the first time ever a fabless semiconductor supplier (Qualcomm) moved into the top 15 ranking. In total, the top 15 semiconductor companies' sales increased only 1% in 2Q06 as compared to 1Q06.
One of the hottest applications for semiconductors in the first half of 2006 was for cellular phones. In fact, IC Insights forecasts that worldwide cellular phone shipments in 2006 will reach about 950 million handsets, up 18% over 2005. As shown, CDMA/WCDMA semiconductor supplier Qualcomm took advantage of the strong cellular phone market to move into the 1H06 top 15 ranking.
Moreover, IC Insights estimates that Qualcomm's full-year 2006 semiconductor sales will reach at least $4.5 billion, up 30% from 2005.
As compared to the full-year 2005 top 15 semiconductor supplier ranking, the top three positions are highly unlikely to change when the full-year 2006 results are posted. However, the number 4-6 positions are truly "up for grabs" this year. In 1H06, less than $60 million separated the fourth ranked supplier, TSMC, from the sixth ranked company, ST.
When incorporating the top 15 companies' outlooks for 3Q06, coupled with IC Insights' estimates for their 4Q06 sales, the top 15 semiconductor companies are on track to post an 8% increase in 2006/2005 semiconductor sales. This figure matches IC Insights' 8% forecast for total 2006/2005 worldwide semiconductor sales growth.
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Posted to the site on 2nd August 2006
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/18614.php