European microcontrollers face rising competition from mainland China

While 2022 ended on a positive note, the 2023 MCU market is expected to dip in the first half and gradually recover in the second. However, this recovery won’t be enough to prevent a slight overall decline. Replacement cycles from the COVID-19 pandemic-driven buying spikes are expected to persist. Inflation and global conflicts will continue through 2023, but signs of a recession are diminishing, announces Yole Intelligence.

Global MCU shipments are benefiting from a strong second half of 2023, but the weak first half is expected to lead to a decline to 26.5 billion units. The short-term MCU market for 2022 to 2028 faces uncertainty due to global geopolitics, while long-term demand for MCUs remains strong, driven by automation and connectivity, and is expected to grow to over 36.7 billion units by 2028.

In this context, Yole Intelligence releases its Status of the Microcontroller Industry 2023 report. This new report aims to provide a thorough presentation of the MCU market to companies, institutions, and individuals that need detailed, actionable market data for critical business decisions. In this report, the company, part of Yole Group, gives a broad overview of the semiconductor MCU industry, as well as an in-depth understanding of the market trends, ecosystem, and players, and offers critical technical insights and analyses into future technology trends and challenges.

As a complement to Yole Intelligence’s ongoing Microcontroller Market Monitor, this annual analysis delivers long-range forecasts rather than quarterly tracking. It also provides a detailed discussion of technology trends and important long-term market drivers.

The shift towards higher-priced MCUs due to supply chain disruptions is likely to become the new normal. 4/8/16-bit market share is falling more rapidly than expected, with most growth occurring in the 32-bit segment, driven by RISC-V architecture and a demand for advanced features. By 2028, the 4/8/16-bit market share is expected to drop to less than 33% by revenue.

In the top five MCU market segments, automotive is set to reach almost 39% of the MCU market by revenue in 2023, while industrial & other remains at 24%. In parallel, smartcard/secure MCUs are forecasted to reach 14% due to strong embedded security trends. At the other end, the consumer segment is expected to drop to just above 11%, and personal data processing is at 5% due to low equipment replacement rates.

Vishal Saroha, Technology and Market Analyst in the Semiconductor Memory and Computing Division at Yole Intelligence

The competitive landscape remains stable, with a growing number of small suppliers, especially in Asian markets. Major Chinese OEMs have entered the semiconductor industry, with a particular focus on MCU manufacturing. These companies are actively involved in chip design to ensure supply chain control. Furthermore, in-house MCU development enables self-sufficiency. Significant investments have been made to strengthen the positions of these companies, exemplified by BYD Semiconductor, the leading MCU manufacturer in China.

Yole Intelligence’s Computing team invites you to follow the MCU technologies and markets on www.yolegroup.com.