Qualcomm steps up to reach top 10 IC suppliers

Qualcomm Inc. has devised a 27-percent year-over-year growth rate to jump to ninth place among the largest IC suppliers in the first three quarters of 2008, while DRAM-supplier Qimonda AG slid 12 positions from 18 to 30 overall, based on the data of market research firm IC Insights Inc.

According to data of IC Insights' top 20 semiconductor suppliers list for the first three quarters, Broadcom Corp. jumped from 23 to 18 among the chip firm rankings. Broadcom also leapfrogged Nvidia Corp. to become the second largest fabless chip vendor, based on the data presented. Click here to view full list.

NXP Semiconductors declined five spots to 15th from 10th in 2007 as sales nosedived 5 percent in the first three quarters, according to IC Insights. For 2008, the company's sales are expected to decline 11 percent as compared to 2007, it added.

"While some major DRAM and flash suppliers are no longer part of the top 20 chip suppliers, total sales for the group in the first three quarters of the year showed a relatively strong 6 percent increase compared to the total global IC market increase of 4 percent," said IC Insights.

With the current state of the global market and the weakening semi markets, IC Insights expects that the top 20 IC suppliers will achieve cumulative sales of $43.2 billion in Q4, a decline of 8-percent sequentially.

For full-year 2008, the top 20 semi suppliers are seen to achieve combined sales of $182.2 billion, a 2-percent increase over 2007, said IC Insights. The firm added that this percentage increase is the same annual growth rate expected in the worldwide semi market.

- Dylan McGrath
EE Times