Korean chip firms' reign to continue
By Tomoko A. Hosaka |
October 12, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE global dominance of South Korean chipmakers is unlikely to be toppled anytime soon, even as rivals consider forging stronger ties, a ratings agency said yesterday.
The report by Moody's Investors Services follows reports last week that Elpida Memory Inc, Japan's biggest semiconductor maker, is mulling listing its shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange next year to raise money to buy stakes in Taiwanese allies such as PowerChip Technology Corp and ProMOS Technologies Inc.
Elpida said in a statement that it had not made any decisions regarding investments in Taiwanese companies.
While industry consolidation isn't good news for the world's top two makers of DRAM computer memory chips - Samsung Electronics Co and Hynix Semiconductor Inc - their lead appears safe for now.
"In the medium term, Elpida's and Taiwanese chipmakers' increased competitiveness is unlikely to unseat the Koreans' established advantages in technology and scale," said Ken Chan, vice president and senior analyst at Moody's.
Samsung, with a 33 percent share of the global market, is investing US$10 billion this year to further bolster its No. 1 position. Hynix Semiconductor turned a net profit in the second quarter after a loss the year before as sales rose to a record.
Meanwhile, chipmakers in Japan and China's Taiwan "have years of losses that necessitated scaling back investment," Chan said.
Combined global market share for Taiwan's top four chipmakers has shrunk to 12 percent from 24 percent four years ago. No. 3 Elpida has 18 percent market share.
The report by Moody's Investors Services follows reports last week that Elpida Memory Inc, Japan's biggest semiconductor maker, is mulling listing its shares on the Taiwan Stock Exchange next year to raise money to buy stakes in Taiwanese allies such as PowerChip Technology Corp and ProMOS Technologies Inc.
Elpida said in a statement that it had not made any decisions regarding investments in Taiwanese companies.
While industry consolidation isn't good news for the world's top two makers of DRAM computer memory chips - Samsung Electronics Co and Hynix Semiconductor Inc - their lead appears safe for now.
"In the medium term, Elpida's and Taiwanese chipmakers' increased competitiveness is unlikely to unseat the Koreans' established advantages in technology and scale," said Ken Chan, vice president and senior analyst at Moody's.
Samsung, with a 33 percent share of the global market, is investing US$10 billion this year to further bolster its No. 1 position. Hynix Semiconductor turned a net profit in the second quarter after a loss the year before as sales rose to a record.
Meanwhile, chipmakers in Japan and China's Taiwan "have years of losses that necessitated scaling back investment," Chan said.
Combined global market share for Taiwan's top four chipmakers has shrunk to 12 percent from 24 percent four years ago. No. 3 Elpida has 18 percent market share.
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