Samsung taking the semi-conductor lead. - In a recent study, US consultants IC Insights highlighted the dynamism of South-Korean company Samsung in the field of semi-conductors, which now accounts for 19% of its global income, US$32.67 billion in 2010, up 54% on 2009. This is the biggest rise among the world's top 5 in the semi-conductor industry and this growth is now directly challenging the world's clear leader in recent years, Intel of the US. Although Intel's growth remains impressive, up 24% in 2010, for example, its lead has been diminishing each year since 1999 with average sales growth of 3.4%, compared with 13.5% for Samsung. According to IC Insight, Samsung's semi-conductor income will beat Intel's in 2014. Samsung's growth is due to its domination of the computer memory market in which it is world leader in the DRAM market (memory found in all PCs), where it holds 40% of the market, and is also world leader in the NAND market (flash memory), which accounts for 35% of its sales. The world's semi-conductor top 5 are 1) Intel (United States; turnover of US$40.1bn; up 24% on 2009); 2) Samsung (South Korea; US$32.7bn; up 54%); 3) Toshiba (Japan; US$13.4bn; up 41%); 4) TSMC (Taiwan; US$13.1bn; up 45%); and 5) Texas Instruments (United States; US$13bn; up 34%). (I.L./transl.fl)