IC Insights has forecast the total memory IC market will increase 10% to 85.3 billion dollar in 2017 as gains in average selling prices for Dram and Nand flash help boost total memory sales. Increases in the memory market are forecast to continue each year through the forecast, with sales topping 100 billion for the first time in 2020 and then reaching nearly 110 billion in 2021. During the period 2016-2021, the average annual growth rate for the memory market is forecast to be 7.3%; about 2.4 points more than the total IC market CAGR during this same time. The Dram market, which was the catalyst for strong total memory market growth in 2013 and 2014, tumbled 3% in 2015 and another 10% in 2016, dragging the total memory market down with it in both years. For 2017, IC Insights forecasts a strong increase in Dram average selling prices, which is expected to lift the Dram market to 11% growth. The Nand flash memory market – the only memory segment to show an increase in 2016 – is expected to grow 10% in 2017.
