Pure-play foundries to represent 85pc of total foundry sales in 2007

SAN JOSE, USA: FSA, the voice of the global fabless business model, recently announced the availability of updated trend and statistical data within the FSA Semiconductor Market Report.

The Leading IC Suppliers section features final semiconductor company sales rankings for 2006, including the top 50 semiconductor, IC, and fabless IC supplier rankings, as well as 2006 rankings of suppliers within various IC product market segments.

The Global IC Outlook and Cycles section focuses on the growth rates of the semiconductor market and the electronic system industry. From 1978 to 2006, the semiconductor market grew annually at almost twice the rate of the electronic system industry, at 12.7 percent CAGR, compared to 6.9 percent CAGR for electronic systems. IC Insights forecasts the annual electronic system sales growth will be slightly below its historical average at 6.6 percent, while the average annual semiconductor market growth will be slow, but still register a healthy 8.4 percent CAGR from 2006 to 2011.

The Foundry section compares pure-play and integrated device manufacturer (IDM) foundry markets, as well as forecasts the potential growth over the next four years. From 2006 to 2011, pure-play foundry sales are expected to display a 15 percent CAGR, almost double the 8 percent total IC industry CAGR expected during the same time frame. The IDM foundry business is forecast to grow just over $6.0 billion in 2011, a 2006 to 2011 CAGR of 12 percent. Pure-play foundries are forecast to represent 85 percent of total foundry sales in 2007.

The Report, a collaborative effort between FSA and IC Insights, provides the most comprehensive market trend information available for companies in the outsourced supply chain. It offers data, statistics and business intelligence to conceptualize business strategies and formulate recommendations. Updated report sections include: Leading Integrated Circuit (IC) Suppliers, Global IC Outlook and Cycles and Foundry.

"More IC product areas are being dominated by a few companies, and making profits in an IC segment where the company is not one of the top three to four companies is challenging," said Bill McClean, president of IC Insights. "The trend over the past five years indicates that the IC industry is maturing and will lead to a more profitable future for the market leaders and a continued struggle for lower-ranked companies."