TAIPEI, TAIWAN: NAND Flash brand companies released their total revenue of 2008.Samsung's annual revenue was $4.614 billion and gained 40.4 percent market share, remained at number 1. position, according to DRAMeXchange.

DRAMeXchange says,the annual revenue of Toshiba was $3.25 billion, and its market share was 28.1 percent as number 2 position. Toshiba's market share increased 3.1 percent compared to 2007.

The annual revenue of Hynix was $1.727 billion, and its market share was 15.1 percent. Hynix stayed at the number 3 position but its market share declined 4.1 percent, compared to 2007.

Micron's annual revenue was $897 million. Its market share was 7.9 percent, which enjoyed a 1.8 percent increase when compared to 2007, and was at the number 4 position. At number 5, Intel's annual revenue was $660 million and its market share was 5.8 percent, increased 2.1 percent, compared to 2007.

Numonyx's (STMicro) 2008 annual revenue was $295 million. It was at number 6 position with the market share of 2.6%, which remained the same as 2007.

The 4Q08 total revenue of worldwide NAND Flash Brand companies was $2.227 billion, dropped 19.3 percent from $2.761 billion in 3Q08. Under the continuing impact of global recession and the influence of declining worldwide consumer confidence, the 4Q08 revenue of NAND Flash brand companies showed signs of decreasing.

The overall demand and expenditure for consumer electronics both declined. Although the bit growth in 4Q08 increased 18 percent QoQ, the overall average selling price dropped 32 percent QoQ, says DRAMeXchange.

Figure 1. 2008 Annual Sales Ranking of NAND Flash Brand Companies

*1. 2008 Foreign Exchange Average value: USD against JPY: 103.4 per dollar; USD against Korean Won: 1100.1 per dollar.
*2. The total sales revenue of year 2007 and 2008 included the sales of companies listed other than the six in this table.
Source: Compiled by DRAMeXchange, Feb. 2009.

4Q08 NAND Flash brand company revenue ranking
Samsung's revenue was $789 million, accounted for 35.6 percent of the market share and remained at the number 1 position. Toshiba's revenue was $738 million, accounted for 33.1 percent of the market revenue as number 2. Hynix's revenue was $266 million, accounted for 11.9 percent of the market as number 3.

Micron and Intel were at number 4 and number 5 positions, respectively, and their revenues were $214 million and $150 million, respectively. Numonyx was at number 6 position with the revenue of $ 70 million.

As far as Samsung is concerned, the demand of NAND Flash major applications, such as mobile phone and other consumer electronics products, was all under the impact of global economic recession and caused the supply bit growth to decline.

Meanwhile, the average selling price (ASP) dropped 35 percent QoQ. These reasons had driven Samsung's sales revenue to drop 30.7 percent QoQ. The 4Q08 Samsung sales revenue was $890 million. Samsung's market share dropped from 41.2 percent in 3Q08 to 35.6 percent in 4Q08, but it still remained the number 1 vendor.

The supply bit growth of Toshiba kept increasing. However, due to the appreciation of Japanese Yen and the drop of NAND Flash ASP, its 4Q08 revenue declined 5.3 percent QoQ, at $738 million. Its market share was 33.1 percent, and increased 4.9 percent, compared to 3Q08. Toshiba was the number 2 vendor in 4Q08.

Under the influence of retiring part of its 200 mm capacity, the Hynix 4Q08 supply bit growth declined 37 percent QoQ. Meanwhile, its 4Q08 ASP also dropped 18 percent QoQ. Benefiting from the depreciation of Korean Won, Hynix 4Q08 revenue dropped to $266 million, a 33 percent decrease, when compared to 3Q08. Hynix market share was 11.9 percent, and dropped 2.5 percent QoQ. Hynix currently still remained at the number 3 position.

Although the supply bit growth of Micron and Intel was about over 40 percent, their revenues were influenced by the drop of ASP and only remained stable.

The 4Q08 Micron average selling price dropped 24 percent QoQ, with revenue of $214 million. Intel's revenue was $150 million, which dropped 3.2 percent compared to 3Q08. The market share of Micron and Intel in 4Q08 was 9.6 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively, positioned at number 4 and 5, respectively.

The newcomer to the NAND Flash market, Numonyx, was also under the impact of ASP drop in 4Q08. Its revenue dropped to $70 million and its market share was 3.1 percent.

While observing the change of NAND Flash branding market in 2007 and 2008, the total annual revenue of the brand companies was about $13.368 billion in 2007 and $11.418 billion in 2008, with the annual growth rate of -14.6 percent. The ASP dropped 63 percent from 2007 to 2008, says DRAMeXchange.

Figure 2. 4Q08 Sales Ranking of NAND Flash Brand Companies

*1. 3Q08 Foreign Exchange Average Value:  USD against JPY: 107.6 per dollar; USD against Korean Won: 1064.5 per dollar.
*2. 4Q08 Foreign Exchange Average value:  USD against JPY: 96 per dollar; USD against Korean Won: 1363 per dollar.
Source: Compiled by DRAMeXchange, Feb. 2009.