Worldwide DRAM output reached 2.933 billion 256Mbit-equivalent units in 2003, up 55.6% year-on-year, said analysts at DRAMeXchange.
Among the five key DRAM supplying countries, Taiwan posted the strongest growth rate–105% growth year-on-year – in 2003, as the country now possesses the world’s biggest cluster of 12-inch DRAM fabs.
The sluggish economy in 2003 has depressed the DRAM demand growth and resulted in a mild over-supply, making some DRAM makers such as Winbond Electronics and Nanya Technology to post year-on-year drop in 2003 sales, the analysts said.
DRAM output is expected to grow at an even slower pace, with 47% year-on-year growth rate, this year, according to DRAMeXchange.
The increasing capacity allocation to NAND flash, non-commodity DRAM and logic IC production, the slow-down in 12-inch wafer starts, and limited contribution from the 0.11-micron ramp and the additional 12-inch wafer starts, will be the reasons behind the slow unit growth, DRAMeXchange suggested.
|
2002-2004: Worldwide DRAM output (256Mbit-equivalent, million units) | ||||||
|
|
2002 |
Y/Y |
2003 |
Y/Y |
2004 (f) |
Y/Y (f) |
|
US |
348.3 |
27.5% |
460.2 |
32.1% |
678.0 |
47.3% |
|
Korea |
871.5 |
85.6% |
1,319.7 |
51.4% |
1,823.5 |
38.2% |
|
Germany |
259.4 |
54.2% |
465.5 |
79.5% |
703.0 |
51.0% |
|
Japan |
118.6 |
(46.1%) |
97.9 |
(17.5%) |
247.0 |
152.3% |
|
Taiwan |
287.2 |
45.4% |
589.6 |
105.3% |
856.1 |
45.2% |
|
Total |
1,885.1 |
41.9% |
2,933.0 |
55.6% |
4,307.6 |
46.9% |
Source: DRAMeXchange, compiled by DigiTimes, January 2004.
Article translated by Jack Lu and edited by Jack Lu
