Global DRAM sales this year are expected to increase by about 14 percent from a year earlier as the global PC market is forecast to return to a pattern of growth, a research report said yesterday.
In the report, iSuppli said the expected increase in sales of DRAM also reflects consolidation in the sector, which could cut supply.
The researcher said the global DRAM sector is expected to post US$30 billion (NT$870 billion) in revenues this year, up from US$26.4 billion last year, while shipments are expected to increase 36 percent.
The researcher added that it expects PC shipments to grow 8 percent this year after declining for the first time in 11 years last year.
However, as the risk of further weakness in the global PC market remains, with concerns over demand for Ultrabooks and Windows 8-based devices lingering, that could undermine DRAM sales, iSuppli said.
“If PC growth falls below expectations and supply remains somewhat inflated, the DRAM market could be headed for a third straight year of decline in 2013,” Mike Howard, a senior principal analyst at iSuppli, said in the report.
However, the acquisition of Elpida Memory Inc by Micron Technology Inc could be an important factor in cutting production and stabilizing DRAM prices in the second half of this year, while production cuts by Powerchip Technology Corp (力晶科技) and ProMOS Technologies Inc (茂德科技) may also help improve global DRAM market conditions to some extent in the first half, iSuppli said.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, yesterday said its materials management head, Vanessa Lee (李文如), had tendered her resignation for personal reasons. The personnel adjustment takes effect tomorrow, TSMC said in a statement. The latest development came one month after Lee reportedly took leave from the middle of last month. Cliff Hou (侯永清), senior vice president and deputy cochief operating officer, is to concurrently take on the role of head of the materials management division, which has been under his supervision, TSMC said. Lee, who joined TSMC in 2022, was appointed senior director of materials management and
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