Slowing global sales of smartphones has weakened demand for ICs (integrated circuits) this year, with sales of the top 20 global IC firms expected to remain flat year-on-year.

While some IC makers face declining sales this year, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and SK Hynix all expect sales gains, the Taipei Times reported.

South Korea’s Samsung is forecast to boost IC sales by 10 per cent this year to $41.61 billion and remain second in the global rankings behind Intel, which will see a 2 per cent drop in sales to $50.31 billion, according to IC Insights.

Contract chipmaker TSMC is expected to maintain its third-place ranking as sales expand 6 per cent to $26.56 billion.

South Korea’s memory chipmaker SK Hynix is forecast to move up two positions to fourth, with sales increasing 4 per cent year-on-year to $16.92 billion, the advisory firm said.

Taiwan’s largest IC designer MediaTek, however, is facing slowing demand for smartphone chips, which account for about 60 per cent of its total revenue. The company’s sales this year are forecast to drop 8 per cent from last year to $6.5 billion and its position in the world rankings is expected to fall from 12th to 13th.

The advisory firm also expects US-based Qualcomm to be hit by slowing smartphone demand, with sales falling 19 per cent from a year earlier to $15.63 billion and it dropping to fifth in the world rankings from fourth last year.

United Microelectronics is predicting a 3 per cent increase in sales to $4.47 billion and to rise two positions to 19th.