Entrance of SK Hynix Cheongju 3rd Factory. (Photo = SK Hynix)

 

 

[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SK hynix claimed the top spot in the global DRAM market in the first quarter of this year, driven by a surge in demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) fueled by the AI boom.


According to market research firm Counterpoint Research on Wednesday, SK hynix secured a 36% share of the global DRAM market in Q1, edging out Samsung Electronics at 34% and Micron at 25%. 

 

 

Just a year ago, Samsung led the market with a 41% share compared to SK hynix’s 30%, but the gap significantly narrowed in Q4 last year, with Samsung at 37% and SK hynix at 35%, due to exploding demand for HBM used in AI applications.


Industry analysts attribute SK hynix’s dramatic turnaround—despite posting a massive net loss of KRW 9.14 trillion in 2023—to its strategic focus on HBM. The company’s over-decade-long investment in the technology has paid off handsomely as the HBM market gained momentum.


SK hynix is now the main supplier of next-generation HBM3E (12-layer) products to U.S. tech giant Nvidia, the largest customer in the segment. This strategic partnership propelled SK hynix’s share of the HBM market to a commanding 70% in Q1.

 

 

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