The handset market is welcoming the arrival of 5G smartphones, shipments for which may range from 200 million to 300 million units in 2020. Such volumes for 5G smartphones mean 4G devices will still be here to stay. IC desingers believe 4G phone replacement demand from users not yet ready to upgrade to 5G will contribute to a rebound in the handset market next year. At any rate, many sectors are optimistic about the coming year. Powe semiconductor suppliers, having experienced a slow year in 2019, has now managed to return their inventory to healthy levels, and they are optimistic about 5G driving chip demand for a wide range of applications in 2020. The memory market, which has been hit hard by by falling demand and prices, is expected to recover next year. Memory module makers anticipate prices and demand to pick up at a modest pace.
Global handset market likely to stage a rebound in 2020: The global handset market is likely to stage an upturn in terms of industry value and unit shipments driven by the release of more 5G phones and continued availability of multiple 4G models with high price/performance ratios, according to sources from Taiwan's IC design sector.
Power semiconductor demand about to pick up: Power semiconductor demand is about to hit its bottom and start picking up, as Infineon and other IDMs have lowered their power chip inventories to healthy levels, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Besides, the end-market demand outlook is optimistic thanks to the arrival of 5G.
Memory module makers optimistic about 2020: Taiwan-based memory module manufacturers have expressed optimism about their performances in 2020, when chip prices and demand are set to recover at a modest pace.