Hynix overtakes Micron in chip share

Hynix Semiconductor overtook Micron Technology as the world’s second-largest computer memory-chip maker last year, technology industry researcher ISuppli Corp. said. Hynix’s revenue from computer chips known as dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, surged 68 percent to $4.3 billion to account for 16.4 percent of global sales, El Segundo,California-based ISuppli said, citing a preliminary tally of 2004 figures. Boise, Idaho-based Micron’s DRAM sales rose 27 percent, about half the pace of the industry, as its market share slipped to third at 16.1 percent, ISuppli said. Industry leader Samsung Electronics saw DRAM revenue rise 52 percent as the company increased its market share to 28.8 percent of global sales, according to ISuppli, which provides customers such as Intel Corp. with forecasts on parts used in the electronics manufacturing supply chain. Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. had the industry’s biggest sales gain, rising to sixth from eighth in the rankings, ISuppli said. Last year, worldwide sales of computer memory chips rose to the highest level since 2000 as consumers and businesses replaced their computers at the fastest pace in four years.