Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: Four Important Books You Need to Read (Not Just Say You Have)
The Marketing Minute: Cracking the Code of Technical Marketing
NAND Flash Revenue Down 2.3% in 4Q15 as Oversupply Led to Falling Prices
March 2, 2016 | TrendForceEstimated reading time: 6 minutes
Compared with the third quarter of 2015, SK Hynix’s fourth-quarter NAND Flash revenue fell by 9.3% to US$841 million. The South Korean memory supplier also saw a 4% bit shipment growth and a 15% slide in the average selling price. As tablet and smartphone shipments from strategic clients are expected to suffer a huge drop in the first quarter of 2016, DRAMeXchange projects SK Hynix to post a 10% quarterly decline in bit shipments as well.
With clients switching to TLC-based mobile NAND products, SK Hynix has raised the TLC ratio in its total NAND Flash output to 40%. The memory maker’s M14 fab, which is undergoing the second phase of its expansion, will be in operation in the second half of 2016 in order to meet this year’s 3D-NAND Flash demand. The mass production of 14nm TLC-based products will also begin in the same period.
Micron
Set against the previous fiscal period, Micron’s bit shipments for the first fiscal quarter of 2016 (from September to November last year) registered a 6% quarterly increase, while its average selling price dropped by 7% and unit cost fell by 6%. Micron’s revenue for the first fiscal quarter of 2016 therefore arrived at US$1.15 billion, up 1.9% from the prior fiscal quarter.
Micron currently is accelerating its efforts to make the transition to 3D-NAND Flash and have sent samples to module makers. Its newest fab in Singapore, 10X, is on schedule to begin mass producing 3D-NAND Flash in the second half of 2016. Micron’s product strategy for 3D-NAND Flash is focused on USBs and Client-SSDs. The memory maker has also developed its own brand of 3D-NAND Flash SSD products, which will be delivered to PC-OEMs for sampling this third quarter.
As for product mix, wafer and chip sales accounted for nearly 50% of Micron’s total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2015, while mobile NAND represented 15~20% and SSD brought in around 15%. The remainder came from automotive, telecommunications, and industrial memory products. However, the ratio of TLC-based products was around 10%, lower than previously expected. This was attributed to target customers showing stronger demand for MLC-based products used in Enterprise-SSDs.
Intel
Intel’s major Enterprise-SSD customers pulled inventory in advance during the third quarter. Consequently, Intel’s bit sales grew 10% quarterly in the fourth quarter of 2015. However, the oversupply in the fourth quarter resulted in a steeper decrease in the average selling price, causing Intel’s revenue fall slightly by 0.2% quarterly to US$662 million.
The memory maker is currently carrying out the conversion of its Dalian fab in China from producing logic ICs to 3D-NAND Flash. The Dalian fab will begin doing small-batch runs of 3D-NAND Flash in the final quarter of 2016. Intel is also continuing its work on 3D XPoint. The testing of this next-generation memory technology will also begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
Share on:
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
AI-Powered Wearables Transform How Consumers Interact with Everyday Technology
09/15/2025 | PR NewswireThe global demand for AI-driven, touchless wearable technologies is accelerating as consumers seek more natural, seamless and intuitive ways to interact with their devices. Traditional touch screens and voice assistants, while effective, are increasingly viewed as limiting in a world where multitasking, mobility and efficiency are key. As industries from consumer electronics to augmented reality and enterprise computing embrace the possibilities of gesture-based control, the market for neural interfaces is rapidly expanding
Kopin Announces $9 Million Follow-On Contract for Defense Thermal Imaging Assembly
08/14/2025 | BUSINESS WIREKopin Corporation, a leading provider of application-specific optical systems and high-performance microdisplays for defense, training, industrial, consumer and medical products, today announced the award of an approximate $9 million follow-on production contract in support of a custom thermal imaging assembly build for a major U.S. defense prime contractor.
Mouser Electronics Receives Top Global Distributor, Growth Awards from HARTING
08/01/2025 | Mouser ElectronicsMouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, has been honored with HARTING's prestigious Global High Service Distributor of the Year Award. Mouser also received the Distinguished Award for New Product Sales Growth. The awards were presented at HARTING's recent 2025 Distribution Summit in Louisville, Kentucky.
DigiKey Expands Inventory with Over 32,000 Stocking NPIs in Q2 2025
07/31/2025 | Digi-KeyDigiKey, the leading global electronic components and automation products distributor, extensively expanded its in-stock products available for same-day shipment by adding more than 32,000 innovative new product introductions (NPIs) in the second quarter of 2025.
It’s Only Common Sense: Selling to Today's Generation of Buyers
06/30/2025 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: It's Only Common SenseMillennials and Gen Z hold significant purchasing power and influence in industries worldwide. Selling to them requires adapting to their unique preferences, behaviors, and values, and exploring their buying habits, embracing their emphasis on social values, and mastering digital communication. Unlike previous generations, they prioritize experiences, sustainability, and value.