Thanks to IC Insights for this one, the Top Ten semiconductor manufacturers in Q2 2010.
Intel 9.9
Samsung 8.2
TSMC 3.29
TI 3.26
Toshiba 3.0
Renesas 2.82
Hynix 2.8
ST 2.5
Micron 2.36
Elpida 1.9
The list poses two intriguing possibilities: Samsung is catching up fast on Intel for the No.1 slot and is spending $15 billion on cpaex this year to close that gap, and Europe is looking perilously close to not having a top ten contender.
No.s 9 & 10 on the list are memory companies which are enjoying a rampant boom, while ST, at No.8, is apparently capacity constrained. Can ST grow fast enough in the second half to head off the challenge from Micron and Elpida?
David,
Looked at in a more positive light, 2 of the fastest growing Sanmsung and TSMC are from relatively small Asian countries. Yet they are competing and indeed bettering the best that Europe and the US can toss at them.
The reason, IMHO is management focus, gov't commitment and a deep belief that, as a nation, they must to build something tangible if they are to survive.
Contrast this with the unconscionable behavior of the US "Masters of the Universe" Investment bankers. Now look at who the Gov't elected to bail out and the future direction of the semi industry is set in stone....
Absolutely, Robert, the investment bankers have much more money to throw at the politicians than the semiconductor industry does. However that other great power in the US - the military - knows it has to have access to superior technology and the US and European governments will always support semi R&D for that reason.