This market research report was originally published at the Yole Group’s website. It is reprinted here with the permission of the Yole Group.
Sony is advancing in the CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) industry, driven by innovations in performance, integrability, and new sensing capabilities.
OUTLINE
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The CIS market is projected to grow from US$21.8 billion in 2023 to US$28.6 billion in 2029, a 4.7% CAGR 23-29.
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Sony is advancing toward a 50% market share within a shifting ecosystem. In contrast, Samsung and SK Hynix have experienced revenue stagnation and a slight decrease.
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Expanding CMOS image sensor technology and products for X-ray, UV, SWIR, polarization, and multispectral imaging confirm the transition from imaging to sensing.
“Looking ahead, the automotive image sensor market is poised for substantial growth, forecasted to increase from US$2.3 billion in 2023 to US$3.2 billion by 2029 with a 5.4% CAGR. This growth will be primarily driven by an increased camera implementation per car and the adoption of high-resolution sensors. Of particular interest, the growth in the image sensor market outpaced that of the semiconductor industry.”
Florian Domengie, Ph.D.
Senior Technology and Market Analyst for Imaging, Yole Group
In 2023, the market maintained stable shipment volumes compared to 2022, with a slight increase in revenues, indicating significant transformation, especially in the Automotive sector, marked by a rise in the average selling price of CIS. The economic conflict between the US and China has impacted market dynamics. Initially, US sanctions on Huawei primarily affected Sony, benefiting Chinese CIS companies like Omnivision and GalaxyCore. However, recent trends, such as market slowdowns, have driven Chinese suppliers to shift their focus toward higher-value markets, such as the automotive and industrial sectors, where investments in capacity and technology are aimed at capturing more market share.
In this context, Yole Group releases its market & technology report, Status of the CMOS Image Sensor Industry 2024. In this new analysis, the company provides a market-dynamics-based scenario for the CIS market, offering an understanding of the impact of CMOS imaging technology on the semiconductor industry. What are the main drivers of this constantly evolving market? How are innovations in CMOS image sensors transforming the ecosystem? This new study provides key technical insights and analyses of market trends, delivering an in-depth understanding of the ecosystem.
Amid these industry dynamics, Sony has continued to grow revenue through expanding its new sensor brand, LYTIA, and the Fab 5 expansion. Conversely, Samsung and SK Hynix have seen their revenue stagnate and even decrease slightly and are reallocating production capacity to their memory business, particularly HBM , due to reduced demand for CIS products. onsemi and SK Hynix, which experienced rapid growth in recent years, have seen their growth plateau. STMicroelectronics is expanding its global shutter product line, aiming to diversify revenue sources beyond 3D sensing to include consumer tracking and automotive cameras. GalaxyCore faces challenges due to its reliance on lower-end market applications, while SmartSens Technology, recovering from a downturn in the security market, is now developing products for the mobile and automotive sectors.
By 2024/2025, the Chinese smartphone market is expected to resume growth, with a focus on high-end models. In this scenario, smartphone OEMs like Huawei and Honor are turning to local CIS suppliers to avoid geopolitical issues, benefiting Omnivision, SmartSens Technology, and GalaxyCore. These companies are developing high-end CIS to compete with Sony and Samsung. Investments by foundry companies like Toppan and VisEra aim to support the domestic CIS ecosystem.
“The automotive segment is expected to grow steadily, with Sony and Samsung competing against onsemi and Omnivision. STMicroelectronics and Omnivision are vying in AR /VR tracking and driver monitoring systems, while high-end machine vision and defense markets may benefit from government funding.”
Anas Chalak
Technology and Market Analyst for Imaging, Yole Group
Investments in emerging technologies in 2021 and 2022 slowed down in 2023 due to the global economic downturn, affecting the start-up ecosystem’s design wins and orders. However, new neuromorphic image sensors and metasurface products are anticipated from 2024 to 2025.
Acronyms
- CIS : CMOS Image Sensors
- CAGR : Compound Annual Growth Rate
- UV : Ultraviolet
- SWIR : Short-Wave Infrared
- HBM : High Bandwidth Memory
- AR : Augmented Reality
- VR : Virtual Reality
Yole Group invites you to follow the imaging technologies, related devices, applications, and markets on www.yolegroup.com.
In this regard, once again this year, Yole Group is delighted to be working and collaborating with CIOE to organize 3 Photonics forums on September 11-12 in Shenzhen, China!
Make sure to meet our imaging experts during the dedicated Forum, Markets Transitioning from Imaging to Sensing: How Technology is Shaping the Consumer and Automotive Worlds.
Discover imaging technologies spanning various markets, from consumer electronics to automotive applications. Join us as our experts explore the latest trends in imaging and sensing technologies, analyzing them from the wafer, device, and end system perspectives. Esteemed industry leaders will share their insights, technology roadmaps, and strategies, offering a vision of the future of the imaging market.
Full program and registration HERE.
Interested in an on-site meeting with us? Send a request to [email protected].
Stay tuned!
