After a strong year for semiconductors in general, the rankings have once again shifted, and this time in Samsung's favor.
The South Korean company has seen a strong increase in 2024, taking them to the top.
The main competitors, Nvidia and Intel, have also seen strong increases in revenue, but couldn't quite match the South Korean giant.
The Taiwanese TMSC has not been included in the recent results.
A Strong Year for Semiconductor Producers Globally
Semiconductors are a vital part in microchips, and are therefore required in practically all modern electronics.
Samsung has shaken up the global semiconductor rankings, according to 2024 data from Gartner, claiming the top spot in a market that Intel had led until 2023.
The South Korean tech giant generated $66.524 billion in revenue, outpacing Intel's $49.189 billion, according to an analyst firm.
Nvidia took third place with $45.988 billion in sales, ahead of South Korea's SK Hynix ($42.824 billion) and Qualcomm ($32.358 billion).
Of particular note is Samsung’s remarkable turnaround; after two years of decline, it reversed its downward trajectory in 2024.
Key drivers of this shift include the rise in unit prices of semiconductor components, increased demand for graphics processing units, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence.
However, Gartner's rankings notably exclude Taiwanese firm TSMC, which does not share its data with the consultancy.
TSMC is likely to lead the rankings if included.
According to TSMC’s own figures, it saw a 33.9% year-over-year increase in annual net sales, reaching $88.6 billion, compared to $69.3 billion in 2023, holding a 55% market share.
On a global scale, Gartner reports that the semiconductor industry reached $626 billion in total revenue in 2024, an 18.1% increase from $530 billion in 2023.
Additionally, the combined revenue of the top 25 chipmakers grew by 21.1% last year.
