Top six dram companies accounted for 96% of the market in Q1

However, the market analyst suggest that the growth enjoyed by the South Korean firms - and many other companies - over the last several quarters, is not likely to continue. In figures released today, Samsung retained its top position in the market with 33% share. Its dram revenue in the first quarter of 2010 amounted to $3.07billion, up 10% from $2.79bn in the fourth quarter of 2009, and up 169.3% year on year, from revenue of $1.14bn. In second place was Hynix, with revenue for the comparable period reaching $2.05bn, up 8.5% from $1.89bn. The company's revenue for the first quarter of 2010 also reflects a 188.7% leap from $716million during the same period a year ago. iSuppli's figures show that with market share for Hynix standing at 22%, the two top players in the dram market enjoyed a combined share of 55%. The rest of the top five included Japanese based Elpida Memory, with a 17% market share; US company, Micron Technology, with a 15% share and Taiwanese Powerchip Semiconductor, with a 5% market share. Powerchip grew 1,068% from a year earlier, rising from $37m in the first quarter of 2009 to $432m a year later. iSuppli adds that revenue for Powerchip has increased nearly 60% during each of the last three quarters. The company continues to compete head to head with Taiwanese firm, Nanya Technology. Between Nanya and Powerchip, the battle for fifth place has switched back and forth a number of times, with Nanya prevailing in nine out of 13 quarters. Nanya, however, fell to number six in the first quarter of 2010 and had roughly 4%. According to iSuppli, the top six dram companies accounted for 96% of the market.