Flash memory makers' Q3 sales jump on price hikes

By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. and other major makers of NAND
flash memory chips saw their third-quarter sales increase sharply thanks to a
surge in prices, according to industry data Friday.
Samsung Electronics logged US$1.29 billion in sales of NAND flash memory chips
used for mobile electronic devices in the July-September period, up 24.4 percent
from three months earlier, the data released by Taipei-based Dramexchange
Technology Inc. showed.
Industry leader Samsung's market share rose slightly to 38.5 percent in the third
quarter from 37.6 percent from the previous quarter.
Japan's Toshiba, the world's second-biggest NAND flash memory chipmaker, posted
$1.16 billion in third-quarter sales, up 21.3 percent from the previous quarter.
Its market share remained unchanged at 34.7 percent.
U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology's sales increased 33.9 percent on-quarter to
$291 million, with its market share rising to 9.4 percent. The company moved one
notch higher to become the world's third-biggest NAND flash memory chipmaker,
South Korean chip giant Hynix Semiconductor Inc. posted $219 million in sales, up
11.7 percent from three months earlier. Hynix posted an 8.7 percent market share,
while its industry ranking fell one spot to third.
According to the online chip clearing house, contract prices for 16-gigabit 2Gx8
MLC, one of the main NAND flash memory chip products, soared to $5.18 in October
from $2.31 in early 2009.
ylee@yna.co.kr
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