Global IC market to top $300billion for first time in 2013

The market research firm recently lowered its forecast for the 2011 worldwide semiconductor industry growth from 10% to 5% and lowered its 2011 IC market forecast from 10% to 4%. The company's mid year update, however, provided a more positive outlook for the IC industry amidst the caution, uncertainty, and hesitancy felt in recent months. As such, total IC unit shipments are forecast to top the 200bn mark for the first time in 2011. In addition, shipments of analogue devices are expected to surpass 100bn units (a product first in the industry) and represent 50% of total IC unit shipments. MOS memory devices are forecast to have the strongest market cagr among the major product categories during the 2008 to 2015 time period, with average annual growth expected to be 12%. Over the same period, nand flash memory is forecast to be among the strongest growing individual product segments, with 20% average annual growth. IC Insights said the automotive market, as well as devices like smartphones and tablet pcs, would be the main momentums for growth.