Global NAND flash shipments valued at US$4.626 billion in 3Q12, says DRAMeXchange

Josephine Lien, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Monday 5 November 2012]

NAND flash shipments in the third quarter of 2012 were estimated at a total value of US$4.626 billion, increasing 6.6% on quarter, with bit shipments rising 10% and ASP dropping 3%, according to DRAMeXchange.

Samsung Electronics continued to be the largest vendor in terms of sales value with a market share of 39.3%, followed by Toshiba with 26.2%, Micron Technology with 14.9%, SK Hynix with 11.6% and Intel with 7.6%, DRAMeXchange indicated.

Global supply of NAND flash in the third quarter improved from oversupply in the preceding quarter because vendors reduced production and demand increased due to new smartphones, DRAMeXchange pointed out.

Samsung will increase its NAND flash production using 21nm technology, while Toshiba increased production based on 19nm process to about 70% of total output, and SK Hynix increased 20nm processes to about 50% at the end of the third quarter, DRAMeXchange noted.

Contract prices for NAND flash are unlikely to further hike because global supply has not been tight since the end of October, but current price levels may persist until January 2013, DRAMeXchange pointed out.