News

22 July 2008

 

GaAs market grew 17% to $3.6bn in 2007

The GaAs device market grew 17% last year, according to Strategy Analytics’ report ‘GaAs Semiconductor Market Grows to Over $3.6 Billion in 2007’, beating the lackluster growth in the mainstream semiconductor market and in-line with the firm’s expectations.

“Strong market growth was driven by demand from cellular handsets, which we estimate to have represented 65% of the merchant market in 2007,” notes Stephen Entwistle, VP of the market research firm’s Strategic Technologies Practice. “GaAs-based RF modules accounted for nearly 90% of the cellular handset market in 2007; and these modules will continue to be key to future mobile handset designs,” he adds.

Seven out of the top ten ranked GaAs device makers were based in North America (specifically the USA), which comprised 78% of the global market. In particular, RFMD, Skyworks and TriQuint continuing to dominate, accounting for 50% of the global market. Others include Avago Technology and M/A-COM. Mitsubishi Electric remained the largest Japanese supplier of GaAs devices, and was joined by Eudyna Devices in the top ten. Finally, as well as being the world’s largest commercial pure-play GaAs foundry, Taiwan’s WIN Semiconductor was also tenth in Strategy Analytics’ 2007 global ranking of GaAs device manufacturers.

“The overall metrics for GaAs market growth remain strong and the industry remains on track,” notes analyst Asif Anwar. “While macroeconomic uncertainties will affect the primary end markets for diminishing year-on-year GaAs growth in 2008, the market leaders will strengthen their leadership as a result of the industry consolidation that has taken place over the past 12-18 months,” he predicts.

See related items:

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GaAs demand from digital cable to top $100m by 2012

RF power semi market to near $1bn in 2012, with non-wireless-infrastructure markets taking up slack

SI GaAs epi market to grow at 8% through 2011

RFMD, Skyworks and Triquint grew GaAs device market share to 55% in 2006

GaAs device market set to grow by 76% over next five years, driven by cellular handset and Wi-Fi demand

Search: GaAs device market RFMD Skyworks TriQuint Avago M/A-COM Mitsubishi Electric Eudyna WIN Semiconductor

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