SK Hynix Dethrones Samsung: The New Leader in Memory Chip Manufacturing
In an unprecedented turn of events, SK Hynix has outpaced Samsung Electronics to claim the title of the world’s largest memory chip manufacturer. This milestone, a first in SK Hynix’s 42-year history, is largely attributed to the skyrocketing demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, predominantly used in AI applications.
Samsung’s memory revenue dipped to 21.2 trillion won ($15.2 billion) in Q2, while SK Hynix reported a slightly higher figure at 21.8 trillion won.
This monumental shift signifies a tectonic change in the semiconductor industry. An industry that had been under Samsung’s reign for over three decades. The key to SK Hynix’s triumph lies in its impressive 70% market share in the HBM market, a crucial element for powering AI accelerators from tech giants like NVIDIA.
SK Hynix has already started delivering samples of its latest 12-layer HBM4 chips to key customers. The company is projected to generate a whopping 31.59 trillion won ($21.4 billion) in operating profit this year alone.
- The global HBM market is on a growth trajectory, expected to surge from $38 billion this year to $58 billion in 2026.
- HBM chips are selling at a premium, with prices five to six times higher than standard DRAM products.
Source: Bloomberg