DRAM leads top ten IC growth sectors for 2010, says analyst

First ranked is the DRAM market, which is forecast to grow 31 percent in 2010. Flash memory will also do well driven by the uptake of NAND flash in handheld and mobile equipment. At 18 percent annual growth flash will tie with 32-bit microcontrollers and special-purpose automotive ICs.

This follows a four-year stretch in which the number of IC product categories that reported positive growth declined each year, with 2009 showing only four of 28 segments with positive growth.

From 2006 through 2009, there was a steady decline in the number of IC products with annual growth. In 2006, 23 of 30 IC product segments enjoyed growth. Even during the relatively strong year for the IC market in 2007, the number of IC product markets that grew was only 15 of 30. The dire economic climate in late 2008 and 2009 resulted in many more declining segments.

IC Insights said that 2010 will start a three-year reversal of this downward trend. The high wafer fab manufacturing capacity utilization, low capital spending, improving global economy and ongoing demand for units is likely to put upward pressure on average selling prices, which should help turn the market around for many IC products beginning in 2010.

Product category and rank Forecast growth

1. DRAM.....................................31 percent
2. 32-bit MCU............................18 percent
3. Automotive logic....................18 percent
4. Flash memory........................18 percent
5. Automotive analog ................17 percent
6. Computer analog...................16 percent
7. Comp & perif. Logic................15 percent
8. Consumer analog..................15 percent
9. Microprocessors.....................15 percent
10= Data conversion.................14 percent
10= Voltage reg. & ref................14 percent

Source: IC Insights Inc.

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