Samsung is getting close to taking Intel's title of the "worlds top chip maker".

According to market researcher iSuppli, Samsung sold US$19.8 billion in semiconductors last year. While this is a long way behind Intel's $31.5 billion the gap is much closer than it was in 2005.

 
In 2006, Samsung's sales rose 10 per cent to $19.6 billion while Intel's fell nine per cent to $32.2 billion.

 
Hynix Semiconductor's sales dramatically increased last year too. The company sales increased by 40 percent to $8 billion, putting it in seventh place last year.

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