Memory Cards (Global Market)

Memory cards

Main article: Memory cards

2024

Memory card sales in the world reached $9.2 billion

In 2024, the global flash memory card market amounted to $9.2 billion. Almost half of this amount fell on the Asia-Pacific region. Such data are contained in the IMARC Group study, the results of which TAdviser got acquainted with in mid-September 2025.

One of the main drivers of the analytics industry is the growing distribution of all kinds of devices in which flash cards are used as drives: these are smartphones tablets, digital cameras, gaming gadgets, car DVRs, unmanned aerial vehicles, Internet equipment of things (), IoT etc. The distribution of high-resolution video in both and 8K formats 4K creates the need for expensive high-capacity memory cards, resulting in an increase in overall market size.

Technological advances have a positive impact on the industry. Manufacturers are constantly improving the characteristics of such media, increasing the data transfer rate and capacity. In particular, the Secure Digital Ultra Capacity (SDUC) specification, announced in 2018, increases the maximum theoretical capacity of memory cards to 128 TB, while information transfer rates can reach 985 MB/s. In 2022, Kioxia introduced the first 2 TB microSDXC card, and in 2024 Western Digital announced the first 4 TB SDUC card.

Flash cards play an important role in the development of the IoT sector and automotive electronics, the study said. Devices such as DVRs, on-board infotainment systems and smart home gadgets require compact and reliable drives: modern memory cards meet these requirements. Leading manufacturers offer products that are resistant to extreme temperatures, shocks, moisture and X-rays. Thanks to this, memory cards can be used in the most severe conditions.

According to the flash card format, the authors of the study segment the market into SD, Memory Stick, MMC, Compact Flash, etc. In 2024, the lion's share of revenue was provided by all kinds of SD solutions - about 65.4%: the wide availability of such cards in various capacity options and speed classes makes them the best choice for both ordinary users and professionals. In addition, SD cards are compatible with a wide variety of devices - from smartphones and cameras to portable game consoles and drones.

In terms of application, smart devices, cameras/video cameras and other equipment are distinguished. In 2024, the first of these categories accounted for 55.8% of sales in monetary terms. From a geographical point of view, the Asia-Pacific region leads with a share of more than 48%: countries such as China, South Korea and Japan are major manufacturers and consumers of memory cards. Globally, the leading industry players are:

• SanDisk;
• Imec;
• Corsair Gaming;
• G.Skill International Enterprise;
• Mushkin;
• Kingston Technology;
• Samsung;
• SK Hynix;
• Toshiba;
• Transcend Information.

The report says that the expansion of the digital infrastructure, the growth of disposable incomes of citizens, as well as an increase in the penetration of smartphones, gaming gadgets and IoT devices will contribute to a further increase in the market volume. According to analysts at IMARC Group, in the future, the average annual growth rate in complex percentages (CAGR) will be 3.9%. Thus, by 2033, costs could reach $12.9 billion.^[1]

Global Secure Memory Card Market Reaches $10.92 Billion

In 2024, sales of secure memory cards on a global scale amounted to $10.92 billion. Almost 40% of global spending was in the Asia-Pacific region. This is stated in a study by Fortune Business Insights, the results of which were published on August 4, 2025.

One of the industry's drivers, analysts call the growing proliferation of smartphones, digital cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles, gaming gadgets and other devices that use flash cards to store data. Against the background of a rapid increase in the amount of information generated, users need larger drives.

Technological advances also have a positive impact on the market. In addition to increasing capacity, much attention is paid to improving the durability and reliability of memory cards. This makes it possible to use such carriers in harsh conditions, including in the industrial sector. The development of advanced systems such as Driving Assist Tools (ADAS), automotive infotainment systems, and industrial automation platforms necessitates storage devices capable of operating efficiently in extreme temperatures, vibrations, and humidity. In addition, the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure is helping to increase the demand for flash cards: drives with increased reliability and durability are becoming more and more popular for registering, processing and storing data in real time on devices connected to the network.

At the same time, there are also certain restraining factors. One of them, the authors of the study call the growing popularity of alternative storage solutions, such as cloud services. Moving information to the cloud provides a number of significant advantages over local storage, including scalability and the ability to access from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. Cloud services reduce reliance on traditional physical drives, including flash cards.

Analysts segment the market into SD cards, microSD cards and products of other formats. In 2024, microSD solutions dominated, which also show the fastest growth rates. This is due to the wide compatibility with various devices - with smartphones, tablets and other portable gadgets. In terms of capacity, categories up to 2 GB, from 2 to 32 GB, from 32 GB to 2 TB and more than 2 TB are distinguished. Among buyers, models with a capacity of 2-32 GB are in greatest demand. By end-user, the market is segmented into individual buyers, enterprises, original equipment manufacturers, government and defense agencies, etc. In 2024, the lion's share of revenue - 62.9% - was provided by buyers of the first of these categories. Geographically, the Asia-Pacific region leads with 39.4% of sales in monetary terms, or $4.3 billion. In second place is North America. Globally, significant industry players are named:

• Western Digital;
• Samsung;
• Kingston;
• Lexar;
• Transcend Information;
• PNY Technologies;
• Adata;
• Sony;
• Dell Technologies;
• Panasonic;
• Toshiba;
• Patriot Memory;
• Silicon Power;
• Delkin Devices;
• Integral Memory.

Fortune Business Insights analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR in the protected memory card market will be 4.7%. Thus, by 2032, sales may increase to $15.67 billion.^[2]

The largest memory card is presented. 4 TB

In early April 2024, Western Digital introduced the most capacious SD memory card on the market. The SanDisk Extreme Pro SDUC is capable of storing 4 TB of information. Read more here.

2020: Memory Card Market Valued at $8.8 Billion

The volume of the global memory card market in 2020 amounted to $8.8 billion, calculated in the research company ResearchAndMarkets. Analysts released the data at the end of June 2021 without specifying the dynamics.

Sales of memory cards in the United States at the end of 2020 are estimated at $2.4 billion. The study also cites data according to which the Memory Stick storage segment in the USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe reached $1.2 billion, and by 2027 the figure will grow to $1.4 billion.

China is projected to remain the fastest growing Memory Stick market. In the Asia-Pacific region, sales of such products by 2027 will be measured at $1.3 billion, largely at the expense of Australia, India and South Korea. In Latin America, sales are expected to rise 3 percent.

Memory card market for the year estimated at $8.8 billion at the end of 2020

The following companies were named the leaders in the memory card market at ResearchAndMarkets (listed in alphabetical order without specifying shares):

• Adata Technology;
• Cactus Technologies;
• Delkin Devices;
• Eye-Fi;
• Kingmax Technology;
• Kingston Technology;
• Lexar;
• PNY Technologies;
• Samsung;
• SanDisk.

According to the analytical report, the largest segment of the market in question is SD memory cards. Their implementation in the world will grow by 3.5% annually and will reach $4.1 billion in 2027. In the MMC segment (Multimedia Card, flash cards that appeared back in 1997), 2.5 percent sales growth is expected annually.

According to estimates by research firm Strategy Analytics, Samsung was able to occupy almost half (47%) of the global memory card market for. smartphones The second place with 22% of the market was taken by the Korean company. SK Hynix The third place went to the American company Micron with 19%. Together, these three companies covered 84% of the global smartphone memory market, estimated by analysts at $39.3 billion^[3]

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