It required at least $3.6 billion in 2008 sales to make the top 20 ranking. Although the top five ranked companies remained the same, and most of the other top 20 suppliers moved up or down only one or two spots in the ranking, there were a few companies that displayed significant changes in their 2008 rank as compared to their 2007 positions.

Major Changes in the 2008 Ranking Include:

The second largest fabless supplier, Broadcom, jumped six positions and is now the 17th largest semiconductor supplier in the world.

After a disastrous 33% decline in IC sales last year, DRAM and flash memory supplier Hynix dropped from 6th in 2007 to 10th in 2008. The company's current annual sales run rate is less than $4.0 billion.

Cell phone IC supplier Qualcomm used a 15% year-over-year growth rate to jump five spots and rank as the 8th largest semiconductor supplier in 2008.

DRAM-supplier Qimonda's nightmare worsened in 2008 as the company filed for insolvency and dropped 11 positions from being ranked 18th overall in 2007 to 29th in 2008.

With a 12% decline in 2008/2007 sales, NXP fell five spots to 15th from 10th in 2007.

Although its sales declined a relatively mild 7% in 2008, Japanese DRAM supplier Elpida dropped out of the top 20 ranking.

Summary

The total 2008/2007 sales of the top 20 semiconductor suppliers displayed a 3% decline, matching the total worldwide semiconductor market decline in 2008. Among the top 20 semiconductor suppliers, there were only nine companies that registered an increase in sales in 2008.

Three of the top 20 companies had double-digit 2008/2007 growth rates. It goes to show that even in a "weak" market there are still a few "strong" performers. In contrast, six companies registered double-digit declines in 2008 semiconductor sales.

Report Details

Additional rankings of the top IC suppliers and details about IC market forecasts through 2013 can be found in the 2009 edition of The McClean Report, IC Insights' complete analysis and forecast of the integrated circuit market. Packed with 400 tables and graphs, the report is available in three-ring binder, CD-ROM, and on-line formats, and also comes with free monthly updates by e-mail from March through November. A single copy of the report in CD-ROM or binder format is priced at $2,890. A bundled CD-binder set is priced at $3,385. An Internet access password is available as a $695 option. The report is also available under a multi-user corporate license for $5,990.

For more information, please visit www.icinsights.com/prodsrvs/mcclean/