Nov. 11, 2008 – The ranks of top semiconductor suppliers in terms of sales is missing a lot of memory these days, but that means those who are left are enjoying better growth than the industry average, particularly those in the fabless/foundry segment, according to recent rankings from IC Insights.

Four of the top 20 companies in the rankings have enjoyed >20% growth for the year so far (1Q08-3Q08) vs. the same period a year ago, led by Qualcomm (27%, $5.14B) and Broadcom (25%, $3.44B). Eleven firms in all outpaced the top 20’s average 6% growth — a number dragged down by the last firm on the list, Hynix (-27%, $5.22B) — and all of them outpaced the industry’s overall 4% mark.

Top sales through the year is of course Intel ($26.83B, 7% growth), followed by Samsung ($16.76B), TI ($9.57B, -3%), Toshiba ($8.71B, -6%), and TSMC ($8.64B, 25%). Samsung’s 15% growth was by far the best out of the memory firms on the list (Micron 4%, Toshiba -6%, and Hynix -27%), and Qimonda, Elpida, and Spansion fell off the top 20 list entirely. It took 1Q-3Q sales of >$3B to make the list this year.

IC Insights projects these top 20 firms to post an average -8% sales decline in 4Q08 (growth-pacer Qualcomm is eyeing a -28% sequential slide), and close out the full year with combined sales of $182.2B, up 2% over the past year, in line with the overall worldwide semiconductor market.

Top 20 semiconductor sales leaders, 1Q08-3Q08 (US$M). Source: IC Insights
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Top 20 semiconductor sales leaders ranked by growth, 1Q08-3Q08 (US$M). Source: IC Insights
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