The 2006 top-25 semiconductor company rankings released indicates that Samsung has moved up a notch closer to Intel's top position due to Intel's 9% sales decline last year and Samsung's 10% growth.  In data released by IC Insights, six of the ranked companies experienced +35% growth while one-third had lackluster less than 9% growth.  Elpida was the top sales growth leader and moved up from 29th place to 23.  Those with negative sales growth were Intel (-9%), Matsushita (-6%), and Renesas (-4%).

The strong DRAM business last year gave DRAM makers a big boost: Hynix Semiconductor, Qimonda, and Elpida.

AMD had a revenue surge due to market share gains and the addition of NVIDIA's revenues to its sales base.

Only two pure play foundries made the top-25 list: TSMC and UMC, both Taiwanese.

Source: IC Insights