Samsung tops Q4 2011 NAND flash sales ranking

The market analyst reports that NAND flash restocking demand mainly relied on certain tablet pc and smartphone clients' OEM orders, given weaker demand from the memory card and UFD channel markets. DRAMeXchange adds that, as the 2xnm class output sector continued to increase in Q4, the bit supply increased in NAND flash markets as well. Overall, the report states, overall Q4 average selling price (ASP) decreased 13% sequentially for branded NAND flash supply makers. According to the analyst, some clients digested excess inventory and kept tighter control on inventory levels due to the 'more conservative market sentiment' toward Christmas sales. Branded NAND flash suppliers' overall Q4 bit shipment increased by approximately 5% sequentially and, as a result, overall Q4 sales for NAND flash branded suppliers decreased about 8.6% sequentially to $4,888million. When ranking branded NAND flash manufacturers based on quarterly sales, DRAMeXchange listed Samsung in first place with $1,691m – 34% market share. Toshiba took second place with $1,450m - 29.7% of the market; Hynix came in third with $669m - 13.7% of the market. Micron was fourth at $648m - 13.3% of the market and Intel placed fifth with $430m - 8.8% of the market. Overall 2011 sales for NAND Flash branded suppliers were $20.378billion. Looking at the annual sales ranking for branded NAND Flash manufacturers, Samsung came in first again with $7,594m - 37.3% market share; Toshiba took second place with $6,282m - 30.8% of the market; Hynix came in third with $2,514m - 12.3% of the market. Micron was fourth at $2,413m - 11.8% of the market; and Intel placed fifth with $1,575m - 7.7% of the market.