MicroSD Cards, Not USB Keys, Pushing WW Flash Market – Futuresource Consulting

The worldwide flash memory market is estimated to have grown 2% in 2014, totalling nearly 1.2 billion units shipped to the aftermarket, according to the research from Futuresource Consulting.

The study, which excludes SSD, reveals that the volume increases are being generated by continued price drops, with trade value closing the year at $9.8 billion, 2% lower than 2013.

“The MicroSD card segment is the driving force of the worldwide flash aftermarket, growing 11% in 2014 and with continued growth forecast for 2015,” says Mats Larsson, senior market analyst, Futuresource Consulting. “Conversely, flash USB pen drives and standard sized cards are in decline.“

APAC countries currently account for almost 40% of worldwide demand for flash memory, followed by the Americas at 22%. In terms of market growth, there are big variations in the between different world regions, with the emerging markets in Africa showing the strongest increase in demand for flash products in 2014.

“In a consolidated market, SanDisk is the leading vendor followed by Kingston and Transcend, with the top three brands together accounting for 50% of the worldwide retail market,” says Larsson. “16GB capacity took the number one spot in worldwide retail last year, followed by 8GB, which still remains the capacity of choice in many countries across the globe.”