Chaos hits NOR flash supply chain

Upturn seen
In fact, the NOR flash memory market revenue is projected to return to growth in 2010, according to iSuppli.Revenue for the NOR flash memory is projected to climb 4.2 percent, rising to $4.8 billion this year from $4.6 billion in 2009, according to the firm.

The embedded NOR flash market accounts for 83 percent of all NOR shipments, at 3.3 billion units in 2010. iSuppli projects unit shipments of NOR flash parts for the embedded market will grow at a 5.3 percent CAGR through 2014, while the cell phone segment will shrink due to the rising penetration of rival NAND flash memory technology.

Within the embedded NOR segment, the PC market--including the motherboard, disk drive and networking sectors--will constitute more than 50 percent of units, according to the firm.

''Given that more than five NOR parts are needed for every computer system, and in light of projections showing the PC market expanding 16 percent this year, the NOR flash market can expect upgraded prospects in 2010 compared to generally depressed results last year,'' iSuppli believes.