NVIDIA Jumps to Semiconductor Leadership
The semiconductor world has a new leader. For years, familiar giants dominated the global chip market. A recent Gartner report reveals a shift. Demand for artificial intelligence and supporting infrastructure caused a dramatic change in 2024.
NVIDIA's Historic Rise to Number One
NVIDIA achieved a stunning feat, leaping to the top semiconductor sales position in 2024. Previously ranked third, NVIDIA surpassed Samsung Electronics and Intel to claim the number one spot for the first time. This jump highlights NVIDIA's strategic leadership in key growth areas like AI and data centers.
Samsung Electronics is now in the number two position. Long-time market leader Intel slid to number three. This ranking shift reflects the evolving dynamics of the semiconductor industry.
Explosive Growth Fueled by AI Demand
The Gartner report details phenomenal growth among top players. NVIDIA's revenue surged by 120.1% year-over-year. Revenue increased from $34.846 billion in 2023 to $76.692 billion in 2024. This increase directly reflects the immense demand for NVIDIA's specialized chips in AI and related sectors.
Other companies also experienced significant growth, benefiting from the expanding semiconductor market:
- SK Hynix: 91.5% revenue growth.
- Micron Technology: 71% revenue growth.
- Samsung Electronics: 60.8% revenue growth.
NVIDIA's growth surpasses even these impressive figures.
Market Expansion and Memory's Strong Performance
The global semiconductor market expanded by a robust 21% in 2024, reaching $655.9 billion. The memory segment significantly drove this growth, with a 73.4% revenue increase. The surge in memory sales, combined with the demand for AI infrastructure, contributed to market growth and vendor ranking changes.
Top Semiconductor Firms by Revenue (2024 vs 2023)
| 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank | Manufacturer | 2024 Revenue (Billions USD) | 2024 Market Share | 2023 Revenue (Billions USD) | Growth (2023-2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Nvidia | $76.692 | 11.7% | $34.846 | 120.1% |
| 2 | 2 | Samsung Electronics | $65.697 | 10.0% | $40.868 | 60.8% |
| 3 | 1 | Intel | $49.804 | 7.6% | $49.427 | 0.8% |
| 4 | 6 | SK hynix | $44.186 | 6.7% | $23.077 | 91.5% |
| 5 | 4 | Qualcomm | $32.976 | 5.0% | $29.229 | 12.8% |
| 6 | 5 | Broadcom | $27.801 | 4.2% | $25.613 | 8.5% |
| 7 | 12 | Micron Technology | $27.619 | 4.2% | $16.153 | 71.0% |
| 8 | 7 | AMD | $24.127 | 3.7% | $22.307 | 8.2% |
| 9 | 8 | Apple | $20.510 | 3.1% | $18.052 | 13.6% |
| 10 | 13 | MediaTek | $15.934 | 2.4% | $13.451 | 18.5% |
| Other | $270.536 | 41.2% | $269.031 | 0.6% | ||
| Total Market | $655.882 | 100% | $542.054 | 21.0% |
This report highlights the semiconductor industry's dynamic nature. It also shows the increasing importance of AI-related technologies in market growth and leadership. NVIDIA's rise to the top signifies this trend and a potentially new era for the semiconductor industry.
