SK hynix joins Samsung, Micron in $1tr club - The Korea Herald

The artificial intelligence (AI) boom has triggered a significant rally in the global memory chip sector, with SK Hynix joining Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology as the third major memory chip... Read original →

The AI infrastructure boom is reshaping the semiconductor tech stack: advanced packaging, silicon interposers, and CoWoS capacity have become critical bottlenecks, boosting bargaining power for TSMC and ASE. Geopolitical friction elevates compliance costs—U.S. CHIPS Act ‘guardrails’ compel Korean and U.S. firms to accelerate domestic fabs, yet equipment licensing delays and talent gaps extend ROI timelines. In response to SK hynix’s $1T milestone, Micron may fast-track vertical integration talks with Broadcom or NVIDIA, while Samsung could suppress DRAM spot prices to defend market share. Over the next 18 months, a structural shortage will persist: even with surging capex, HBM3E/HBM4 technical barriers will constrain effective supply, anchoring top-tier gross margins above 60% and accelerating memory self-reliance efforts in Taiwan, China and mainland China.