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As a result of an 11% decrease in average DRAM contract price worldwide in addition to notebook and smartphone market seasonality, global DRAM industry value fell by 7.5% QoQ in the first quarter to US$12 billion. As top-tier memory makers advance to 20nm and 25nm process technology, bit output is on the rise. Furthermore, DRAM sales reached a recent high in the fourth quarter of 2014, but once peak demand subsided increased production and high inventory levels pressured manufacturers to lower prices. Some manufacturers began adjusting their product mix in the first quarter, hoping to achieve price equilibrium...
Seasonality resulted in NAND flash oversupply in the first quarter, bringing average chip price down by nearly 10%. NAND flash vendors’ revenues decreased compared to the fourth quarter. TrendForce slight oversupply to continue in the first half of the second quarter, but as new smartphones hit the market beginning in late May and SSD demand picks up, NAND flash market supply and demand should be balanced in the second half of the year...
The global DRAM market did not adhere to seasonal patterns in the fourth quarter – not only did notebook shipments not show the usual decline, but 47 million units were shipped, representing a slight increase for the quarter. Although contract prices had been decreasing since November, average contract price for the fourth quarter was higher than the previous quarter. Furthermore, top-tier DRAM makers are migrating to the 20nm and 25nm processes and the additional output resulted in an 8.0% QoQ revenue increase to US$13.0 billion, setting a new record for the highest revenue in a single quarter...
Looking at in the fourth quarter of 2014, OEM mobile device shipments peaked due to seasonality – the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in particular – contributing to balanced supply and demand for the NAND Flash market. NAND Flash suppliers experienced steady revenue growth, and operating margins were on par with third quarter figures...
Reviewing the NAND flash market in the third quarter, strong demand from Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus helped balance out excess NAND flash supply and resulted in a 5-6% QoQ increase in average NAND flash contract price. NAND flash suppliers' operating margins were generally better than in the second quarter...
The three major memory manufacturers were ready for the third-quarter arrival of the iPhone 6, adjusting their production capacities to meet Apple's immense demand for mobile memory. The reduction in commodity DRAM production caused contract prices to rise, and commodity memory products had the highest margins in the third quarter. As a result, DRAM industry value reached US$12.0 billion, an 11% increase over the second quarter and a new quarterly revenue record. As memory makers' production ratios are well adjusted and they continue to increase next-generation output, their profitability is expected to see further improvement. Samsung is at the head of the pack with its operating margin at 42%, while SK Hynix is close behind at 40%. Micron, still using the 30nm process as its main technology, had a gross margin of 24.1%. However, with the DRAM oligopoly, profits are expected to remain stable and DRAM industry value is projected to reach US$46.1 billion in 2014 and US$52.0 billion in 2015, for 13% YoY growth...
Reviewing the NAND flash market in the second quarter, although OEMs began restocking in June, NAND flash supply exceeded demand in April and May. As a result, average NAND flash selling price fell by 5-10% QoQ in the second quarter, and suppliers saw a decrease in revenue and operating margins...
As a result of strong smartphone growth, mobile DRAM has the highest production ratio in the global DRAM industry, edging out commodity DRAM. With less supply, commodity DRAM has become the most profitable product category and contract prices were on the rise in the second quarter. Global DRAM industry value reached US$10.8 billion in the second quarter, a 9% QoQ increase. Looking at profits, of the three major DRAM makers, Samsung had the best performance with an operating margin of 39%, while SK Hynix was close behind with 38%. Inotera, part of the Micron group, had the highest operating margin of all DRAM manufacturers, at 55%. With the oligopoly and tight supply, a decline in DRAM prices would have been difficult. TrendForce forecasts DRAM industry value will reach US$46.8 billion in 2014, a 36% YoY increase...
Since the formation of the DRAM industry oligopoly last year, the memory market has profited across the board. Even SK Hynix, with production at its Wuxi fabrication plant recovering gradually in the first quarter, has not experienced a decrease in profitability...
In review of the NAND flash market in the first quarter, although output only increased by 6.1% QoQ, weak demand due to seasonality resulted in market oversupply. Average NAND flash contract price fell by 18-20% QoQ, while NAND flash suppliers’ revenue and operating margins also decreased compared to the fourth quarter of 2013...
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