DRAM revenues are on the up

GLOBAL DRAM revenues in the third quarter increased 40.7 per cent over last year and the industry is now worth $5.719 billion.

According to beancounters at DRAMexchange, Samsung and Hynix's combined share expanded to 55.1 per cent in the quarter, compared to 53.1 per cent earlier this year.

Samsung is still the market leader and increased its share 2.1 per cent to 31.1 per cent.

Hynix followed with a 23 per cent share in the quarter, while Elpida Memory came in third.

Contract prices for DDR3 chips rallied 36 per cent during last three months and chip spot prices climbed 24 per cent on average.

This helped the big three boost their revenues significantly in the quarter.

DDR2 parts rose 30-31 per cent in the third quarter thanks to a tighter supply, DRAMexchange said.

Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) and Nanya Technology were laughing all the way to the bank with revenue growth of 52.9 per cent and 45.3 per cent, respectively.

Nanya has previously said that DDR3 will account for more than half of its combined production in the first quarter of 2010, compared to just 40 per cent now. µ