Despite mkt turmoil, power chips grew by 9 p.c.

ENGLAND, UK: According to a Power Semiconductor Discretes and Modules report, released by IMS Research, total power semiconductor revenues grew by nine per cent to just under Rs.98,360.66 crore ($18 billion) in 2011.

As per the report, 2011 was a year of two very contrasting halves for the power semiconductor discrete and module market. The high growth rate of 2010 continued in the first half of 2011 but the demand declined in Q2. After the Euro crisis in August, the power semiconductor market slowed in Q3 and then declined sharply in Q4, largely because of a prolonged inventory correction.

In 2011, the for power modules grew by 32 per cent. This was faster than the discrete power semiconductors, which grew only three per cent. Solar energy, car production and consumer appliances were the major growth drivers of the power module revenues. On the contrary, discrete semiconductors are used in faster-moving goods such as televisions and notebook & desktop computers, so their sales respond quickly to changes in consumer confidence.

As per the report, Infineon remained the leading supplier of power discretes and modules despite facing various pricing challenges and fluctuating demand and lead-times. Mitsubishi Electric, Fuji Electric and Semikron had also witnessed growth in their market share.

"Infineon further cemented its leadership in IGBTs and was the fastest growing supplier in the power MOSFET market. Mitsubishi Electric maintained market leadership in power modules, enabling it to narrow the gap with Infineon in the total market,” said Richard Eden, senior market analyst in the Power Management & Conversion Group at IMS Research.

According to the report, the top ten suppliers of power semiconductor discretes and modules worldwide in 2011 were Infineon, Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba, STMicroelectronics, International Rectifier, Fuji Electric, Fairchild, Vishay, Renesas, and Semikron.