TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • Open RAN
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • 5G
  • Access Evolution
  • Private Networks
  • Cloud Native
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Sustainability
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Security
  • More Topics
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • |
  • About
  • Contact
  • |
  • Connect with us
  • 5G
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Access Evolution
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • Cloud Native
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Open RAN
  • Private Networks
  • Security
  • Sustainability
  • Connect with TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Access Evolution

Access Evolution

Samsung retains top spot in Omdia Q4 2021 semiconductor market analysis

Via Omdia

Mar 29, 2022

LONDON – Samsung has maintained its position atop the semiconductor industry in Omdia’s 4Q21 analysis of the industry. In a year that saw the industry set a new record of more than half-a-trillion dollars in revenue, Intel has managed to just hold its top spot as the leader in annual revenues.

According to the latest competitive analysis of the worldwide semiconductor market from Omdia, the market surpassed annual revenue of half-a-trillion dollars for the first time ever in 2021, capping a remarkable year for the industry. Furthermore, nearly 60% of companies in the sector grew by more than 20% in revenues. 

Samsung maintains lead

The review of quarterly performance confirms Samsung maintained the top spot as the largest semiconductor company by revenue in the last quarter of last year and brought in revenue of $19.995B compared to Intel’s $19.976B. Samsung was also the largest semiconductor firm by revenue in 3Q21, taking over after Intel was the largest in 1Q21 and 2Q21. 

However, on an annual basis, Intel completed 2021 as the number one semiconductor company by revenue in 2021, with revenue at $76.6B, which represented 13% of all semiconductor revenue for the year. Notably, Intel’s 2021 revenue growth was nearly flat from 2020, which contrasted with the following top nine semiconductor firms, which all experienced year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth above 15%.

2021 semiconductor rankings

Intel’s main revenue source, MPUs, was not a semiconductor component that experienced as strong 2021 growth as other components. MPUs overall grew at 11% YoY last year, much lower than the total semiconductor growth level of 24%. 

Samsung finished 2021 just behind Intel, with semiconductor revenue of $75.2B, representing 12.8% of all revenue for the industry. Samsung significantly closed the annual revenue gap to Intel thanks to the strong increase in the DRAM market (up 42% in 2021) and NAND market (up 23% in 2021). Samsung is the number one firm for both components. 

Samsung's growth rate of 32.1% last year demonstrates that not all components increased in a similar fashion last year. In 2020, Samsung’s semiconductor revenue was $19.3B behind Intel, but in 2021 they were just $1.4B behind. 

Record industry revenues

Total 2021 semiconductor industry revenue of $586.8B was $100B more than the next highest year on record, 2018, when the industry brought in $484.7B. YoY revenue growth in 2021 was 24.2%, the second highest on record since Omdia began tracking the metric in 2002. 

Cliff Leimbach, Senior Research Analyst for the semiconductor market at Omdia, noted that the highest YoY revenue growth rate on record was in 2010 (34.1%), but this was a recovery year following a 10.9% decline in 2009 related to the Great Recession. 

"YoY growth in 2021 is significant because the prior year was not a recovery year, but an above average year with 10.4% growth," Leimbach said, adding that the long-term YoY growth for the semiconductor market is 6.8%." (See illustration.)

Total Semiconductor revenue percent change

Of the 247 companies that Omdia tracks at an annual level, 145 (59%) had annual semiconductor revenue growth greater than 20% in 2021. The strong 2021 was not specific to a few of the largest semiconductor firms but spread through the majority of players in the industry.

Q4 review

As 2021 was a record-breaking year, it was underpinned by recording breaking quarters, and 4Q21 no exception. The last quarter of 2021 was the fifth straight quarter of record revenue for the industry, with quarterly revenue rising to $159.1B, up 3.6% from the previous quarter – versus the long-term historical average of 0.6% QoQ increase in semiconductor revenue. 

"Demand continues to be strong in the work-from-home era brought about by the global pandemic and supply tight for many components," said Craig Stice, Chief Semiconductor Industry Analyst at Omdia. "Supply shortages throughout the semiconductor landscape resulted in rising ASPs, which helped lift revenue. The resulting strong annual revenue was significantly above the historical average, 24.2% versus 6.8%."

Related Topics
  • Access Evolution,
  • Global,
  • Semiconductor,
  • Telecoms Vendors & OEMs,
  • Tracker

More Like This

Open RAN

What’s up with… Vodafone and Open RAN, Eurochips, European FTTx

May 25, 2022

Access Evolution

NEC and Juniper Networks Deploy Algeria Telecom's Nationwide 5G-Ready IP Metro Network

May 25, 2022

Access Evolution

BT cranks up broadband speeds for thousands of small businesses on copper lines

May 25, 2022

Access Evolution

Nokia announces shipment of 1.5 millionth Quillion-powered PON port for broadband fiber nodes

May 24, 2022

Access Evolution

Blueline Madagascar Selects Ribbon’s Optical Transport Solution to Deliver Increased Capacity across its Communications Network

May 23, 2022

This content extract was originally sourced from an external website (Omdia) and is the copyright of the external website owner. TelecomTV is not responsible for the content of external websites. Legal Notices

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

9:15

DSP Leaders World Forum 2022 Interview: Mattias Fridström, Arelion

11:34

Neos Networks, "the best kept secret in telecoms"?

46:31

Is hybrid cloud still the optimum strategy for telcos?

2:05

Deutsche Telekom: supporting the grid’s evolution

TelecomTV
Company
  • About Us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
Our Brands
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • Great Telco Debate
  • TelecomTV Events
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070
Connect With Us
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal Notices
  • Help

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media.

© Decisive Media Limited 2022. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).