The market for power semiconductors, both discrete devices and modules grew strongly last year as it rebounded from the slump of 2009.
The power semiconductor market grew 43% in 2010, according to a new report from IMS Research.
The report concluded that Infineon was the largest supplier of power discretes and modules.
“It was the largest market share gainer in the power mosfet market and extended its leadership position in IGBTs,” said the IMS report
Other manufacturers with growing market shares included power module specialists Mitsubishi and Fuji Electric, with STMicroelectronics, International Rectifier and Vishay also gaining share in power discretes.
The market was worth almost $16bn in 2010.
The research firm found that the main drivers of growth were industrial motor drives, automotive and computer and office equipment.
“2010 saw rapidly rising IGBT sales in the Chinese market for use in domestic appliances such as room air-conditioning and variable speed washing machines” commented Richard Eden, senior market analyst in the power and energy group at IMS Research.
“The driver for this market growth is the shift from inefficient equipment to inverterised replacements,” said Eden.
The power module market grew by 65% in 2010, significantly faster than discrete power semiconductors.
Top Ten Suppliers of Power Semiconductors Worldwide in 2010
1. Infineon
2. Mitsubishi
3. Toshiba
4. STMicroelectronics
5. Vishay
6. International Rectifier
7. Fairchild
8. Fuji Electric
9. Renesas
10. Semikron
IMS Research’s “The World Market for Power Semiconductor Discretes & Modules” report.