Declining Global SSD Shipments: 114 Million Units Sold in 2022, a 10.7% Drop

According to the latest report from TrendForce, the global SSD market has finally resolved its supply and demand issues in 2022. The shortage of master control ICs that plagued the market in 2021 has been rectified, allowing for a more balanced market. However, despite this positive development, global SSD shipments saw a decline, with only 114 million units shipped in 2022, a 10.7% decrease compared to the previous year.

The top three leaders in SSD shipments for 2022 were Kingston, Adata, and Lexar. Kingston and ADATA maintained their solid advantages and experienced growth in market share compared to 2021. Lexar’s growth can be attributed to its aggressive push for revenue as it prepares to go public. Kimtigo also made significant strides in expanding into industrial control and OEM markets, which boosted its shipment volume and market share. Netac, on the other hand, maintained its competitive edge in the SSD market and secured several government orders in the enterprise sector, keeping its market share and ranking consistent with the previous year.

There were some notable changes further down the rankings. Colorful, leveraging cost advantages from China’s homegrown master controls and NAND Flash, defied market trends with increased shipments, climbing to the sixth spot. PNY re-entered the top ten by withstanding market downturns through extensive international channel development. Teclast held its market share consistent with 2021 and rose to the eighth position. Gigabyte benefited from the gaming market, maintaining its ninth-place shipment market share and ranking. Lastly, Transcend held the tenth position by focusing on maintaining profitable niche products in the industrial control market instead of chasing higher shipment volumes.

The top five SSD brands in 2022 held nearly 60% of the market share and are expected to continue dominating in the future. Despite challenges in the market, these brands increased their combined market share from 53% to 59%. With the global economy still struggling in 2023 and constrained notebook and desktop shipments, module makers have been able to reduce high-cost inventory pressures through continuous purchase smoothing. This positions them favorably for price-competitive shipping. The market sentiment saw a swift turnaround at the end of the third quarter due to aggressive production cuts by NAND Flash suppliers. SSDs were the first to reflect cost increases, benefiting module makers with lower-cost inventories. Large-scale SSD channels with substantial market volumes and financial resources have been able to navigate market ups and downs successfully and seize opportunities. TrendForce predicts that these large SSD firms will continue to grow in the coming years.

In terms of technology, Chinese homegrown PCIe master control entities, such as Maxio Technology, are rapidly catching up. They have developed increasingly mature PCIe control technologies and are mass-shipping mainstream PCIe 4.0 products compatible with various NAND Flash suppliers. They are also aggressively advancing into PCIe 5.0 product development and verification. The collaboration between China’s independent control ICs and module makers is expected to thrive. Chinese homegrown SSD channels are actively advancing supply chain configurations to expand beyond China and enter international markets. Longsys is leading the charge by acquiring shares in Licheng Suzhou and Smart Modular in Brazil to strengthen downstream module production capacity.

Background Information

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About Adata:

Adata is a well-established Taiwanese brand that specializes in memory and storage solutions, including RAM modules, solid-state drives (SSDs), and USB flash drives. They are recognized for their reliable and high-performance storage products, catering to both consumer and industrial needs.

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About Colorful:

Colorful is a leading technology company, specializing in IT, computers, and electronics. Founded in 1995, Colorful has grown to become one of China’s leading PC manufactures, ranking first in motherboard production and offering a wide range of products that includes desktops, laptops, motherboards, graphics cards, and other PC-related components. Colorful also provides a range of tablet and smart device components, including Android and Windows Phone devices, all-in-ones, iPads, game consoles, and more. Colorful also produces a line of digital health products as well. The company has a strong international presence, and its products are available around the world. Colorful has established itself as a leader in the PC manufacturing industry, providing quality and innovation with each of its products.

  

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About Gigabyte:

Gigabyte Technology, a important player in the computer hardware industry, has established itself as a leading provider of innovative solutions and products catering to the ever-evolving needs of modern computing. With a strong emphasis on quality, performance, and technology, Gigabyte has gained recognition for its wide array of computer products. These encompass motherboards, graphics cards, laptops, desktop PCs, monitors, and other components that are integral to building high-performance systems. for their reliability and advanced features, Gigabyte's motherboards and graphics cards have become staples in the gaming and enthusiast communities, delivering the power and capabilities required for immersive gaming experiences and resource-intensive applications

  

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About Kingston:

Kingston Technology, founded in 1987, is a respected American company specializing in memory and storage solutions. They offer a diverse range of products, including memory modules, solid-state drives, USB drives, and more. Kingston is known for its reliable and high-performance storage solutions.

  

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About Lexar:

Lexar is an American brand of flash memory products, including memory cards, USB flash drives, CompactFlash cards, card readers, and Solid-State drives. Founded in 1996, Lexar has been a pioneer in creating innovative storage solutions. The brand was acquired by Micron Technology in 2006 and later merged with Crucial Technology. Lexar products are designed to enhance performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability for digital devices.

  

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About PNY:

PNY Technologies, Inc., doing business as PNY, is an American manufacturer of flash memory cards, USB flash drives, solid state drives, memory upgrade modules, portable battery chargers, computer locks, cables, chargers, adapters, and consumer and professional graphics cards. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey. PNY has been a key player in providing reliable and innovative storage solutions for various applications.

  

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Technology Explained

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NAND: NAND technology is a type of non-volatile memory that is used in many computer applications. It is a type of flash memory that is used to store data in a non-volatile manner, meaning that the data is not lost when the power is turned off. NAND technology is used in many computer applications, such as solid-state drives, USB flash drives, digital cameras, and memory cards. It is also used in many embedded systems, such as cell phones, tablets, and other consumer electronics. NAND technology is a reliable and cost-effective way to store data, making it a popular choice for many computer applications.

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PCIe: PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard for connecting components such as graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards to a motherboard. It is the most widely used interface in the computer industry today, and is used in both desktop and laptop computers. PCIe is capable of providing up to 16 times the bandwidth of the older PCI standard, allowing for faster data transfer speeds and improved performance. It is also used in a variety of other applications, such as storage, networking, and communications. PCIe is an essential component of modern computing, and its applications are only expected to grow in the future.

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SSD: A Solid State Drive (SSD) is a modern data storage device that employs flash memory technology to store data electronically. Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs have no moving parts, resulting in significantly faster read and write speeds. This leads to quicker boot times, faster application loading, and smoother overall system performance. SSDs are known for their durability, shock resistance, and energy efficiency, making them ideal for laptops, ultrabooks, and other portable devices. They come in various form factors, including 2.5-inch, M.2, and PCIe cards, and are favored for their reliability, quiet operation, and reduced heat generation

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