Top 10 OEMs accounted for 42% of global semiconductor market in 2020

18 Feb 2021

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 18): Apple, Samsung and Huawei retained lead positions as the top original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and semiconductor buyers in 2020.

According to research data analysed and published by online trading portal Comprar Acciones on Tuesday, in total, the top 10 semiconductor buyers in 2020 spent a cumulative US$188.73 billion (RM761.53 billion), marking a 10% increase over 2019.

They accounted for a 42% share of the global market, which was worth US$449.84 billion during the year, it said.

The portal said compared to Apple’s 2019 expenditure, which amounted to US$43.24 billion, that was an increase of 24% year-on-year (y-o-y).

Also, Apple accounted for an 11.9% share of the global semiconductor market in 2020.

Meanwhile, Samsung occupied a distant second spot, spending US$36.42 billion, a 20.4% increase over 2019’s US$30.25 billion.

Its market share was 8.1%.

Though Huawei managed to retain its third spot, its spending reduced considerably in comparison to 2019.

Due to US government trade restrictions on the company, its ability to purchase semiconductors was limited.

As a result, both its smartphone supply and market share decreased over the year.

Its spending on semiconductors totalled US$19.09 billion in 2020, down by 23.5% from US$24.93 billion in 2019.

Huawei’s market share was slightly higher than the fourth-ranked company, at 4.2%, versus 4.1% for Lenovo.

Lenovo’s spending was just US$500 million less than Huawei’s, at US$18.56 billion, up by 10.6% y-o-y.

Rounding up the top five was Dell Technologies, which spent US$16.58 billion and had a 3.7% share of the market.

Apple’s iPhone sales up 17% in 1QFY21

Apple retained the top spot, thanks to heightened demand for tablets and mobile PCs as consumers shifted to a work-from-home model.

Its semiconductor demand also increased due to a transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon chips for the Mac line of products.

Apple reported an increase of over 17% in iPhone sales during the fiscal first quarter (1QFY21).

iPhone revenue hit US$65.6 billion against an expected US$59.8 billion, according to Refinitiv analysts.

The figure set an all-time high for quarterly iPhone revenue, up from US$61.58 billion, a record set in 1QFY18.

Source: The Edge Markets