The market for DRAM is expected to partially reverse the drastic losses it incurred in 2011 and achieve revenue growth in 2012, as the result of balanced supply and demand following the exit of major manufacturer Elpida Memory.

Global DRAM industry revenues are forecast to reach US$30.6 billion in 2012, up 3.3% from US$29.6 billion in 2011. Although seemingly small, the revenue expansion for 2012 is a welcome development given the stunning 25% contraction last year. The overall picture will continue to brighten during the next few years, with DRAM revenues exceeding US$30 billion each year for the next five years and reaching US$40.2 billion in 2016.

"This year's anticipated turnaround comes as somewhat of a surprise, especially as the challenges of 2011 appeared to point to a calamitous 2012," said Mike Howard, senior principal analyst for DRAM & memory research at IHS. "Weak demand was one of the major challenges last year, when revenue slipped each quarter as prices went from bad to worse. However, the key problem was excess DRAM manufacturing capacity – the same trouble that has bedeviled the industry for much of its history."

Compounding the difficulties last year were the October floods in Thailand, which depressed PC shipments – a traditional DRAM. The perceived scarcity of hard disk drives pummeled PC sales and thereby DRAM demand; and the paucity of hard drives meant PC manufacturers were paying more for storage – leaving even fewer dollars to spend on DRAM.

DRAM prospects started looking better, however, after the bankruptcy filing in February of Japan's Elpida. Elpida was part of the elite echelon of DRAM manufacturers that includes Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix as well as Micron Technology.

"Elpida's insolvency will have a massive impact on the industry's fortunes, primarily because it promises to shift the market from a state of endemic oversupply to sorely needed balance for most of 2012," Howard said. "As a result of such developments, IHS is now cautiously optimistic that the DRAM industry may actually be through the downturn and headed for improvement."

Even with the final outcome of Elpida's bankruptcy uncertain and the disposition of its assets still in negotiation, the rest of the industry is expected to benefit from Elpida's exit, with the market lifting on signs of supply rebalance. Moreover, no significant deterioration is expected within the global economic environment, which should help reverse the paucity of demand that has hobbled the industry of late.

The DRAM space can look forward to continued strong expansion in the next few years because of three powerful growth drivers: ultrathin PCs, smartphones and tablets. Ultrathin PCs – a category that includes Intel-based ultrabooks, the MacBook Air from Apple and ARM-based lightweight PCs – will present plenty of new opportunities for low-power DRAM, especially when ultrathins comprise the majority of shipments by 2016. For high-end ultrabooks in particular, PC manufacturers are projected to have enough margin to afford the installation of low-power DDR3 (LPDDR3) DRAM in their products, adding to overall DRAM industry revenues. LPDDR3 will account for as much as 19% of the total DRAM market in 2014.

In the case of smartphones, increasing shipments during the next five years coupled with growing memory content per phone suggest rosy prospects as well for DRAM. Average DRAM content in smartphones in 2012 will amount to 5.1GB, up from 3.5GB last year and from 2.3GB in 2010.

Overall, the net increase in DRAM due to smartphones will equate to a CAGR of 65% from 2011 to 2016. Very rapid growth is also forecast for DRAM in tablets, with average DRAM content in 2012 for the devices projected to hit 8GB, up from 4.5GB last year and 2.5GB in 2010. When tablet shipment increases are combined with DRAM content growth, DRAM use in tablets will be up a substantial 95% CAGR for the same five-year period from 2011 to 2016, accompanying smartphones and ultrathins in boosting total DRAM revenues.