According to the latest report from Counterpoint Research, the global foundry revenue in Q4 2023 saw an increase of approximately 10% compared to the previous quarter. This growth was primarily driven by increased demand for supply chain replenishment in the smartphone and personal computer industries. Despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties worldwide, signs of a bottoming-out rebound are starting to emerge in the industry.
In the realm of semiconductor manufacturing, TSMC maintains its leading position with a commanding 61% market share. TSMC's revenue exceeded expectations, partly driven by increased demand for NVIDIA's AI GPUs and the growth in the 3nm node propelled by Apple's iPhone 15.
Samsung, capturing 14% market share in the fourth quarter, benefited primarily from increased replenishment demand for smartphones. Their S24 series witnessed a surge in pre-orders, indicating a substantial revenue boost in the 5/4nm nodes.
On the mature process node front, both GlobalFoundries and UMC outperformed expectations, each securing a 6% market share. However, both companies have cautioned about a possible softening in the first quarter of 2024, attributed mainly to weakened demand in the automotive and industrial applications sectors, as well as customer inventory adjustments.
While there have been additional orders for smartphone-related components in the short term, uncertainties persist in long-term market demand, leading to a cautious outlook for the full year 2024.
Editor's Commentary:
After the sharp decline experienced in 2023, the semiconductor manufacturing industry is expected to rebound into growth trajectory in 2024, as inventories continue to normalize gradually.
Strong demand for artificial intelligence and a slight recovery in the terminal market will be the main growth drivers for the semiconductor manufacturing industry in 2024.
