Advanced MP Technology continues to keep you up-to-date on the Semiconductor/ Memory markets.

Well, here we are…Week 27, and 2010 is half over!!!  The Chip business continues strong and should remain so, at least through July. However, Memory Chip pricing continues its’ downward trend started back in may. Again, Chip Manufactures have increased lines and outputs to meet growing customer demands for Q3 and beyond.

However, several commodities/brands of other electronic components are still facing severe shortages, as demand exceeds supply. This is prompting a number of suppliers to raise prices, while most Franchises are limiting sales through to the channel market. I expect this ‘demand outweighing supply’ to continue at least through the summer, however many are predicting these long leadtimes to last till the end of the year. Manufacturer’s that are experiencing longer lead times, shortages and higher prices included:

Discrete components from On Semi, Fairchild, NXP and Vishay(12-20Weeks)

Power Mosfets from International Rectifier, ST Micro, Fairchild and Infineon(10-20Weeks)

Active IC’s from TI, Allegro, and Maxim(10-14Weeks)

EEPROMs from Atmel and Microchip(10-16Weeks)

Capacitors from Kemet and AVX (now others such as Rubicon, UCC, and Sanyo)

Passives from Epcos and Pulse

Electromechanical devices from Molex and Tyco

On the Memory side, we are seeing stronger Average Selling Prices(ASP’s) in the DDR3 segment this week (June 28-July 2) amid soft demand. However, for the DDR2 segment, overall price trend has maintained stable. DDR1 and SDRAM prices continue very strong in most cases, even though Samsung continues to revise their popular 64, 128 and 256Mb lines in both. Some already past the middle of the alphabet!!!!!!

In contrast to last week, where some speculative trading took place, we barely see any kinds of speculative trading this week. Instead, ASP of DDR3 while still strong, has continued its downside trend. Many local traders have commented that they do not have a strong incentive to build more DDR3 into their inventory at the moment because they expect prices to drop further.

DDR2 ASP, on the other hand, has maintained its stability. Demand has been weaker this week because of the holiday in HK. As lesser inquiries were seen, memory module makers' quotations have also maintained flat accordingly. Local module makers are quoting 2GB DDR2 and DDR3 modules at $38.50 and $43.50, respectively.

Contract quotes for DRAM chips are continuing to drop in July and same is expected for August as Chip makers such as Samsung, are increasing yields of its wafer process.

Here is the new Memory pricing I am seeing on the spot market for the beginning of July, 2010:

DDR3 Unbuffered Modules:
1Gb      $23.50-$24.00

2Gb      $45.00-$47.00

4Gb      $115.00-$120.00

DDR2 Unbuffered Modules:

1Gb       $21.00-$22.00

2Gb      $39.00-$40.00

4Gb      $135.00

DDR2 Chips:

512Mb 667 64x8   $1.45
512Mb 667 32x16 $1.30

1Gb     800 128x8 $2.25

1Gb     667 64x16 $2.70

DDR1 Chips:
512Mb 400 64x8   $1.90 (Micron at $2.25)

512Mb 400 32x16 $1.80 (Micron at $3.10)
256Mb 400 16x16 $1.35 (Micron at $2.50)

SDRAM Chips:
512Mb 133 32x16 $8.25 (Micron at $9.00)

256Mb 133 16x16 $2.20 (Micron at $2.40)
128Mb 133 8x16   $1.15 (Micron at $1.85)
64Mb   133 4x16   $1.40 (Micron at $1.25)

NAND FLASH:
256Mb: $1.50
512Mb: $1.65
1Gb:     $1.80
4Gb:     $3.65

8Gb:     $6.35(SLC)

8Gb :    $2.90 (MLC)
16Gb :  $4.40(MLC)

16Gb :  $12.25(MLC)

32Gb :  $23.00(SLC)

32Gb :  $8.25(MLC)

64Gb:   $16.25 (SLC)

64Gb:   $46.50(SLC)