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Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Artificial intelligence is significantly transforming the hardware supply chain. For over three decades, Samsung has led the dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chip industry. However, the emergence of AI has brought about a remarkable shift. SK Hynix has become the leading manufacturer in both the High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chip and DRAM markets.
DRAM chips are used in most familiar devices, such as computers and phones. In contrast, HBMs are integrated into hardware solutions that prioritize maximum performance, like GPUs designed for AI applications. Both Samsung and SK Hynix are South Korean companies. Meanwhile, U.S. company Micron Technology is also in the mix and is already catching up to Samsung.
There’s a New Leader in the DRAM IC Market With an Impressive Performance
Over the past few months, Samsung has led the DRAM IC manufacturing sector with a market share of around 40%. SK Hynix maintained a respectable 29% share, while Micron Technology followed closely with about 26%. However, these figures have significantly shifted in the first quarter of 2025, with SK Hynix emerging as the market leader.
SK Hynix supplies Nvidia with its AI GPUs.
SK Hynix also dominates the HBM IC market, holding an impressive 70% share. In fact, the South Korean company supplies Nvidia with its AI GPUs. Samsung holds about a 28% market share, while Micron is close behind with around 18%. The market shares in the DRAM chip sector are more evenly distributed, although SK Hynix has taken the lead for the first time.
The graph on the left shows that SK Hynix became the foremost DRAM manufacturer in the first quarter of 2025 with a 36% market share. Samsung holds the second position with 34%, and Micron Technology closely follows at 30%. Behind these companies, Chinese memory chipmakers Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. and Changxin Memory Technologies are gradually making progress.
The chart on the right predicts the HBM market over the next five years. SK Hynix is expected to maintain its leadership. However, it may lose some market share due to the saturation of the AI hardware market and increased competition. For its part, Samsung is projected to stabilize at around a 25% market share, while Micron is the only one expected to grow, reaching a 20% market share. Although these figures are merely forecasts, they offer a fairly accurate insight into how the semiconductor industry may evolve.
Image | Jonathan Kemper
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