The electronics components industry is a massive global business that manufactures the parts and materials needed to build electronic systems and devices. From semiconductors to passives, connectors to electromechanical, here are the 15 largest electronics component suppliers in the world.
1. Samsung Electronics
- Headquarters: South Korea
- 2019 revenue: $197.7 billion
- Products:DRAM, NAND flash memory, LEDs, displays, integrated circuits, consumer electronics
Samsung is the world’s largest manufacturer of memory chips including DRAM and NAND flash memory. It is also a powerhouse in advanced displays and smartphones. Samsung is the number one semiconductor supplier in the world.
2. Intel Corporation
- Headquarters: United States
- 2019 revenue: $72 billion
- Products: Microprocessors, chipsets, SSDs, Wi-Fi, modems
Intel is the leading manufacturer of PC and server microprocessors including CPUs and chipsets. It has led the transition of x86 architecture to multicore parallel processing for over a decade.
3. Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC)
- Headquarters: Taiwan
- 2019 revenue: $34.6 billion
- Products: Wafer foundry, integrated circuits
TSMC pioneered the dedicated silicon foundry model for IC fabrication. It manufactures chips for fabless companies using leading edge process nodes. The world’s largest silicon wafer fabrication plant.
4. SK Hynix
- Headquarters: South Korea
- 2019 revenue: $26.5 billion
- Products: DRAM, NAND flash, SSDs
SK Hynix is a major memory semiconductor supplier engaged in the design and manufacture of DRAM and NAND flash memory chips. Also a leading supplier of wafer foundry services.
5. Broadcom
- Headquarters: United States
- 2019 revenue: $22.6 billion
- Products: Semiconductors for wired, wireless communications
Broadcom is a leading designer, developer and supplier of RF, analog, digital and mixed signal integrated circuits for the wireless and broadband communication markets.
6. Qualcomm
- Headquarters: United States
- 2019 revenue: $24.2 billion
- Products: Cellphone chipsets, modems
Qualcomm invents breakthrough technologies for the wireless industry. It is the world’s largest fabless semiconductor company supplying chips, software and services for mobile devices and wireless networks.
7. NVIDIA
- Headquarters: United States
- 2019 revenue: $10.9 billion
- Products: GPUs, artificial intelligence platforms
NVIDIA is the leading manufacturer of graphics processors (GPUs) used in PCs, data centers, mobile devices and autonomous vehicles. It pioneered programmable shading and GPU computing.
8. Texas Instruments
- Headquarters: United States
- 2019 revenue: $14.4 billion
- Products: Analog ICs, embedded processors
Texas Instruments is the world’s largest supplier of analog components and embedded processors. Its catalog includes tens of thousands of analog ICs covering amplifier, regulator, ADC/DAC, interface applications.
9. STMicroelectronics
- Headquarters: Switzerland
- 2019 revenue: $9.5 billion
- Products: Automotive, industrial, personal electronics ICs
ST Microelectronics is an innovative global semiconductor leader that designs, develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of products for automotive, industrial and personal electronics applications.
10. Infineon Technologies
- Headquarters: Germany
- 2019 revenue: €8.03 billion
- Products: Automotive, industrial power, security microcontrollers
Infineon provides semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial power control, power management, IoT, security and chip card applications. A leading supplier of power semiconductors globally.
11. ON Semiconductor
- Headquarters: United States
- 2019 revenue: $5.5 billion
- Products: Image sensors, power semiconductors, analog ICs
ON Semiconductor offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy efficient power and signal management, logic, discrete and custom solutions for electronics system designers.
12. Raming Technology
- Headquarters: Taiwan
- 2019 revenue: $4 billion
- Products: Optoelectronics, RF components
Raming is a global supplier of high quality optoelectronic and RF components including LEDs, laser diodes, BAW filters, amplifiers for consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, telecom applications.
13. NXP Semiconductors
- Headquarters: Netherlands
- 2019 revenue: $8.9 billion
- Products: Automotive, security, networking processors
NXP Semiconductors provides high performance mixed signal and standard product solutions. It is a leader in automotive semiconductors, mobile, identification applications.
14. Renesas Electronics
- Headquarters: Japan
- 2019 revenue: $7.2 billion
- Products: Microcontrollers, analog, power semiconductors
Renesas delivers trusted embedded design innovation for the automotive, industrial, home electronics, office automation and information communication technology markets.
15. Corning Inc.
- Headquarters: United States
- 2019 revenue: $3.5 billion
- Products: Optical fiber, optical materials, ceramics
Corning is the world’s leading innovator and manufacturer of optical fiber, glass and ceramics used in communications networks, mobile consumer electronics, scientific and defense technologies.
Conclusion
This list covers the 15 largest global corporations involved in the supply of electronic components, semiconductors, interconnects, passives and other materials that enable modern electronics manufacturing. Their continued research, development and supply of critical components drives the exponential technological progress that shapes the electronics landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the major types of electronic components?
Major component types are:
- Semiconductors – Diodes, transistors, ICs
- Passives – Resistors, capacitors, inductors
- Interconnects – Printed circuit boards, connectors
- Electromechanical – Relays, switches, sensors
- Displays – LCD, LED, OLED
- Memory – RAM, ROM, Flash memory
Q2. What are the latest developments in electronic components?
Some latest developments are:
- 5G communication ICs
- Embedded machine learning ICs
- Wide bandgap power semiconductors
- Flexible and stretchable circuits
- Silicon carbide and gallium nitride devices
- Biometric sensors
- High density memories
Q3. What are the key raw materials used to manufacture electronics components?
Key raw materials are:
- Silicon
- Copper
- Aluminum
- Gold
- Tin
- Tantalum
- Palladium
- Plastics and epoxies
- Rare earth metals
Components also use chemicals like acids, gases, photoresists and dopants.
Q4. What are the environmental concerns around electronics manufacturing?
Some concerns are:
- Chemical use and waste
- High energy and water consumption
- Air and water emissions
- Recycling difficulties due to complex materials
- Conflict mineral sourcing issues
- Occupational health hazards
Strict environmental regulations guide electronics companies.
Q5. How can counterfeit electronics components be detected?
Detection techniques include:
- Visual inspection of markings, packaging, materials
- X-ray imaging to look inside components
- Electrical parameter testing outside tolerance limits
- Forensic chemical analysis for material confirmation
- Microscopic examination for signs of remarking
- Traceability documentation checking
Supply chain controls and testing helps mitigate counterfeit risks.