For the first time ever, SK Hynix has overtaken Samsung as the world’s biggest memory chip company. In April-June 2025, the South Korean firm made 21.8 trillion won in sales, just ahead of Samsung’s 21.2 trillion won.
New market data shows Samsung is losing ground in fast HBM memory chips. Its share fell from 41% last year to only 17% this year, while rivals SK Hynix and Micron gained more business. Experts say Samsung struggled partly because China restricted some exports, making it harder for the company to sell its products.
HBM Market Share (by Bit Volume)
SK Hynix is now making more profit from memory chips than Samsung. Here’s what’s happening:
Since early 2024, SK Hynix’s profits keep going up while Samsung’s keep going down，SK Hynix is doing especially well with HBM chips (the super-fast memory used in AI) They’ve become NVIDIA’s main supplier for these chips.
– Samsung is losing ground in this important market
Operating Profits: Samsung vs. SK Hynix
Counterpoint Research analyst Jeongku Choi stated: “The good news is Samsung’s HBM sales appear to have bottomed out in Q1 2025 and are showing signs of recovery in Q2 2025. However, to regain lost market share, Samsung must diversify its HBM3E customer base and pass NVIDIA’s stringent quality certification.”
SK Hynix’s Latest Earnings Report
SK Hynix Q2 2025 Financial Highlights
Record-breaking Performance
Revenue: 22.232 trillion KRW (▲26% to ▲35% )
– Operating Profit: 9.213 trillion KRW (all-time high)
– Growth Drivers: DRAM (77% of revenue), especially HBM shipments
2. DRAM Business Breakdown*
HBM: Leading market share with diversified applications
DDR5: Server demand
LPDDR5X/LPDDR4X: Flagship smartphones & Chinese market
Strategy: Optimized cost structure via advanced packaging
3. NAND Challenges
Revenue share: 21% (▼ from 31% )
Volume growth offset by price competition
4. AI-Driven Demand
– Outperformed expectations due to global tech investments in AI
– Both DRAM and NAND shipments exceeded forecasts
Samsung Q2 2025 Financial Results
1. Overall Performance
Revenue: 74.6 trillion KRW (▼5.8% to ▲0.67% )
Operating Profit: 4.7 trillion KRW (▼55.23% )
2. Semiconductor (DS) Division
Revenue: 27.9 trillion KRW
Operating Profit: 400B KRW (▼93.8% from 6.45T KRW)
Headwinds:
Memory chip inventory adjustments
US-China export restriction costs
3. HBM Market Struggle
Market share: 17% (▼ from 40% in Q1 2024)
Rank: #3 behind SK Hynix & Micron
Future Hope:
Tesla’s $16.5B AI chip deal (production from 2026)
Pending NVIDIA HBM3E certification
4. Outlook
Expected modest H2 recovery
Focus: Server memory sales + HBM3E qualification
Key Contrast
SK Hynix: HBM leadership → record profits
Samsung: HBM delays + fab challenges → profit collapse
Turning Point: NVIDIA’s HBM3E decision may reshape rankings
