The global DRAM market is on the way to recovery in Q2 2012 according to DRAMeXchange-- as average selling prices (ASPs) rebound and vendors near fully loaded capacities, industry revenues grow by 12% Q-o-Q.
However overall revenues decline by 13.8% Y-o-Y to total $7.02 billion.
When it comes to vendors, Samsung and SK Hynix retain the lead, holding nearly 70% of the total market between them. Samsung revenues are up by nearly 7% Q-o-Q, reaching $2.78bn with a slight decline in market share (39.5%).
At 2nd place is SK Hynix with a "relatively stable" quarter-- Q2 2012 DRAM revenues reach $1.71bn with 14.2% Q-o-Q growth. DRAMeXchange predicts ASPs for various SK Hynix may decrease, leading to losses in profits.
Elpida (currently undergoing bankruptcy protection) comes 3rd with a 17% Q-o-Q increase in sales and market share growth reaching 0.5%. Elpida purchaser Micron follows with a 20% Q-o-Q increase in revenues and 12.5% market share.
DRAMeXchange says the Micron-Elpida merger will "help improve the DRAM ecosystem"-- but only because fewer vendors mean less price competition.