Intel's 4th quarter 2009 revenues suggest single digit fall in global semiconductor revenue

Intel finds a happy end in year 2009 by reporting a quarterly revenue growth and a huge profit growth in 4th quarter of 2009. Intel reported fourth quarter 2009 net income of $2.3 billion, Up 875%.
Its revenues in fourth quarter 2009 reached $10.6 Billion, up $2.3 Billion and 28% Year-over-Year.

For full year 2009, Intel posted revenue of $35.1 billion. The company reported full-year operating income of $5.7 billion.

"Intel's strong 2009 results reflect our investment in industry-leading manufacturing and product innovation," said Paul Otellini, Intel president and CEO. "This strategy has enabled us to generate unprecedented operating efficiencies while growing our traditional businesses and creating exciting new market opportunities, even in difficult economic times. Our ability to weather this business cycle demonstrates that microprocessors are indispensable in our modern world. Looking forward, we plan to deliver the benefits of computing to an expanding set of products, markets and customers."

When Intel has done this well in 4th quarter, there is no wonder in expecting lot of other semiconductor vendors such as Samsung, Hynix and other such computer specific semiconductor chip suppliers to exceed analyst expectations. With fabs in Taiwan churning more ICs in the year-end, it can be estimated, the global semiconductor revenue fall in 2009 might only touch 9%. A surprising single digit fall compared to scary double-digit predictions of early and mid 2009