Mark LaPedus EE Times (01/11/2010 9:44 AM EST)

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. -- Market research firm Semico Research Corp. has raised its IC forecast for 2010.

At SEMI's Industry Strategy Symposium (ISS) here, Jim Feldhan, president of Semico, predicts that the IC market will fall by 8-to-9 percent in 2009, but the sector will grow by 22 percent in 2010.

In October, the research firm predicted that the IC market would fall by 12.5 percent in 2009. At the time, it said that the IC market would grow by 20 percent in 2010.

According to Feldhan, the signs are strong in 2010 due to the following reasons:

1. The Holiday season was stronger-than-expected for ICs, with 3-to-5 percent growth.

2. ''Inventories are not out of control.''

3. Capacity utilization is high.

4. ''We're seeing tight supply in NAND and DRAMs.''

5. The NAND market is expected to grow 25 percent.

Related Links: