SK hynix Inc., South Korea's No. 2 chipmaker, posted the sharpest growth in sales among the world's top 15 players in the first six months of 2018, industry data showed Wednesday, with Samsung Electronics Co. maintaining its solid lead.

SK hynix saw its sales jump 56 percent on-year to reach US$17.7 billion in the January-June period, the data compiled by IC Insights showed.

Samsung Electronics topped the list by boasting a whopping $39.7 billion in sales, up 36 percent on-year, followed by Intel Corp. which advanced 13 percent over the cited period to reach $32.5 billion.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. followed with $16.3 billion, and U.S.-based Micron Technology Inc. with $15.4 billion.

The United States had the most companies in the top 15, with seven players, followed by Europe with three. South Korea and Taiwan held two each, along with one Japanese firm.

"As shown, all but four of the top 15 companies had double-digit year-over-year growth in the first half of 2018," IC Insights said. "Amazingly, the Big 3 memory suppliers -- Samsung, SK hynix and Micron -- each registered greater than 35 percent year-over-year growth in the first half."

IC Insights added the strong global demand for DRAM and NAND flash products also helped Samsung widen its gap with Intel.

"Samsung went from having only 1 percent more total semiconductor sales than Intel in the first half of 2017 to having 22 percent more semiconductor sales than Intel in the first half of 2018," IC Insights added.

By: DocMemory
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