Counterpoint: Global semiconductor industry revenue will drop 8.8% in 2023

The global semiconductor industry's revenue fell 8.8% in 2023 due to slowing corporate and consumer spending. The overall semiconductor revenue rankings in 2023 also changed significantly compared to 2022, with Intel regaining the top spot from Samsung, which was hit hard by the downward trend in the memory industry and the downturn in the smartphone business. Artificial intelligence brought positive news to the semiconductor industry and became a key revenue driver, especially in the second half of the year. Nvidia seems to be the biggest beneficiary, followed by AMD. Both companies will develop AI-related businesses in the coming years.

2023 is the year for semiconductor companies to fine-tune their strategies/outlooks and manage inventory adjustments in preparation for the coming AI boom. According to Counterpoint’s Semiconductor Revenue Tracker, only six of the top 20 semiconductor suppliers reported year-over-year revenue growth. The memory industry, in particular, experienced strong headwinds, with revenues falling 43% year-over-year in 2023. The top 20 semiconductor suppliers have a 71% market share, down from 76% in 2022, with revenues falling 14% year-over-year.

The top ten semiconductor companies account for 55% of global revenue

Intel regained the top spot in semiconductor revenue ranking in 2023, although its revenue fell 16% year-on-year, mainly due to double-digit year-on-year declines in shipments in the PC and server divisions. Samsung was also severely affected by the slowdown in the DRAM and NAND memory markets, with revenue falling 38% year-on-year. The other two major players in the memory market, SK Hynix and Micron, also saw a sharp decline in revenue, down 33% and 36% year-on-year, respectively.

Nvidia is in the spotlight in 2023 due to the acceleration of AI deployment. The company will continue to lead the semiconductor industry growth due to its high market share of general-purpose GPUs used in AI/HP computing. Nvidia's revenue increased 86% year-over-year in 2023, ranking third, the first time the company has entered the top five.