Global Mobile DRAM Revenue Rises 6% in Q3
Worldwide mobile DRAM revenue increased by 6% to US$3.46 billion in the third quarter, representing 29% of DRAM industry value, according to DRAMeXchange. As global DRAM supply remains tight, despite a slight decline in mobile memory prices, industry value still rose in the third quarter on the back of increased bit output.
“For the fourth quarter, Apple is leading the pack with iPhone 6 shipments, while other smartphone makers are lowering their shipment forecasts,” said Avril Wu, assistant vice president of DRAMeXchange.
“As the iPhone’s 1GB of LPDDR3 does not significantly benefit overall mobile DRAM consumption and market demand is slowing due to seasonality, average selling price could decline further in the fourth quarter. Looking at discrete and PoP product contract prices, 8Gb and 16Gb LPDDR2 and LPDDR3 prices are forecast to fall by around 3% while other products should see prices stay flat,” Wu added.
With the gradual arrival of LPDDR4 next year, which DRAM makers will produce on their most advanced process technology, 8Gb mono die will be the mainstream specification for LPDDR4, while 16Gb and 32Gb will follow. Next year, major smartphone manufacturers are expected to release smartphones with 4GB of mobile memory.
Looking ahead to 2015, since Apple announced the iPad Air 2 would use 2GB of mobile memory, the next-generation iPhone is expected to have the same amount. Along with conservative DRAM capacity expansion and manufacturers focused on profits, the mobile memory market is expected to see healthy price trends.
