Samsung Electronics maintained its position as the top-ranked NAND flash memory chipmaker in the world, followed by Toshiba, Micron Technology and SK Hynix. According to market research firm IHS iSuppli on July 1, Samsung Electronics turned over US$2.84 billion in Q1 2014, and remains the top-ranked NAND flash memory chipmaker in the world with a 37.4 percent share.

Toshiba follows with a 31.9 percent share and US$1.778 billion in sales. It narrowed the gap with Samsung in the market to 5.5 percent.

Micron Technology was in third place with a 20.1 percent share and US$1.121 billion in sales, followed by SK Hynix with a 10.6 percent market share and US$592 million in sales.

Meanwhile, the two Korean firms comprised 65.0 percent of the DRAM market in Q1. Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology dominate the DRAM market, while the NAND flash market is dominated by the three companies plus Toshiba.

Samsung may also widen the gap with Toshiba after Q2, once manufacturing output in its 3D V-NAND production facility in Xi'an, China is reflected in data.

Toshiba has made an investment of 7 trillion won (US$6.9 billion) in its facility to mass-produce 3D V-NAND flash memory chips.