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Apple to become second largest IC spender in 2011, says iSuppli
El Segundo, Calif. — Apple Inc. will become the world’s second-largest OEM semiconductor buyer in 2011, and maybe the top chip purchaser in 2012, thanks to sales of its iPad and iPhone products, reports market research firm iSuppi Corp.
iSuppli raised Apple’s iPad forecast to 12.9 million shipments in 2010, an increase from the previous forecast of 7.1 million units. Shipments are expected to rise to 36.5 million in 2011 and 50.4 million in 2012.
“iSuppli believes that the only limitation on iPad sales now is production — and not demand,” said Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor research for iSuppli, in a statement. “Apple has taken a very controlled approach introducing this product to new markets, with manufacturing limitations likely being the major inhibitor on how quickly iPad sales expand.”
iSuppli’s report, “Hewlett-Packard No. 1 in Semiconductor Spending, but Apple is Eyeing the Top Spot,” projects Apple will spend $16.2 billion for semiconductors in 2011, leapfrogging Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., which will drop to the third spot after finishing with $13.9 billion. Hewlett-Packard Co. is expected to retain its No. 1 ranking next year thanks to $17.1 billion in spending, said iSuppli.
“Leadership in semiconductor spending represents a position of prestige,” said Min-Sun Moon, senior analyst for semiconductor spend and design at iSuppli, in a statement. “An advancement in the rankings means that a company has been successful in introducing new products and that it is allocating more dollars in research and development — two factors that, incidentally, feed innovativeness as well.”
In 2009, Apple recorded a 13 percent expansion in semiconductor spending — a year when most manufacturers posted negative growth, and this year, Apple’s spending will increase 54.0 percent to reach $12.4 billion, which is the highest growth rate predicted for any company, according to iSuppli.
Other growth leaders include Lenovo Group Ltd. at 47.1 percent, SanDisk Corp. at 44.3 percent, Research in Motion Ltd. at 42.9 percent, Cisco Systems Inc. at 37.3 percent; and Acer Inc. at 29.4 percent.
Overall, iSuppli analysts said semiconductor consumption will continue to increase in the Asia-Pacific region, due to increased manufacturing levels in the region and because of outsourcing activity flowing out from other areas. Major markets feeding the trend include compute platforms, wireless communications and wired communications.
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