NAND flash sales grew 64% in 2005

Sales of NAND flash memory grew 64 per cent to reach Rs.46,905 crore ($10.6 billion) in 2005, while the market for NOR flash declined 13 per cent to finish the year at Rs.35,400 crore ($8 billion), according to a report released by market analyst firm IC Insights.

Overall, flash memory sales grew 19 per cent to reach Rs.82,305 crore ($18.6 billion) in 2005, according the March update of the firm's McLean Report.

Despite the revenue decline, unit shipments of NOR flash increased nine per cent to reach 410 crore (4.1 billion), while shipments of NAND devices increased 88 per cent to reach 120 crore (1.2 billion), according to the report.

Samsung remained the leader in flash memory sales in 2005, according to the McClean Report's list of the top 10 flash memory suppliers for the year. The company's flash sales grew 47 per cent on the year, reach nearly Rs.29,205 crore ($6.6 billion), 35 per cent of the overall market. An agreement with Apple to supply flash memory for the iPod nano accelerated Samsung's second half sales and unit output, IC Insights said.

Toshiba retained the second position with flash sales that increased 13 per cent to Rs.11,062.50 crore ($2.5 billion) and flash marketshare of 13 per cent in 2005, down one point from 2004.

Hynix Semiconductor enjoyed one of the fastest flash sales growth rates in 2005, with sales that jumped nearly six fold to reach Rs.5,575.50 crore ($1.26 billion), according to the report.

- Dylan McGrath
EE Times