Unlock the Editor’s Digest totally free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite tales on this weekly publication.
Chipmaker SK Hynix’s quarterly working revenue has greater than doubled on robust gross sales of superior reminiscence chips utilized in synthetic intelligence merchandise, amid stockpiling forward of looming US tariffs.
Analysts stated SK Hynix toppled arch-rival Samsung Electronics because the world’s greatest dynamic random-access reminiscence (Dram) chipmaker for the primary time throughout the first quarter.
Working revenue rose 158 per cent to Won7.44tn ($5.2bn) within the first three months of this 12 months, a lot larger than the Won6.6tn forecast by analysts polled by Bloomberg.
Gross sales elevated 42 per cent 12 months on 12 months to Won17.6tn. The robust earnings had been pushed by strong gross sales of excessive bandwidth reminiscence (HBM) chips utilized in AI {hardware}.
However the chipmaker warned of potential demand volatility within the second half as a consequence of macroeconomic uncertainties whereas stressing that HBM demand can be much less affected by potential US tariffs on semiconductors.
“Demand uncertainty will enhance due to tariff coverage modifications and different restrictions, however that is expediting demand for IT shopper items as some shoppers rush to purchase merchandise earlier than costs rise,” Kyu Hyun Kim, head of Dram advertising, instructed analysts on Thursday.
SK Hynix, a primary HBM provider to Nvidia, captured 36 per cent of the Dram market within the January-March interval, adopted by Samsung at 34 per cent, in accordance with Counterpoint Analysis. Dram is essentially the most broadly used reminiscence chip in PCs and servers to assist course of knowledge. HBMs are made by stacking Dram chips.
“The modified dynamics will most likely proceed in the intervening time as Samsung finds it tough to meet up with SK Hynix in HBM,” stated Daniel Kim, an analyst at Macquarie. “AI and HBM are fast-changing markets. It’s not straightforward for Samsung to catch up as a latecomer.”
SK Hynix widened its lead in HBM, with a 70 per cent market share within the first quarter, Counterpoint Analysis stated. Its HBM market share will stay above 50 per cent this 12 months, with Samsung’s share falling to under 30 per cent and US rival Micron Expertise’s share rising to nearly 20 per cent, in accordance with market researcher TrendForce.
The corporate expects Huge Tech to take care of its spending on server chips to compete in AI, whereas new AI options in smartphones will gas alternative demand, rising gross sales of high-performance cell Dram chips. SK Hynix nonetheless expects HBM demand to double this 12 months.
Its shares fell 0.8 per cent on Thursday morning as brief promoting of its inventory surged to a report excessive of Won1.5tn up to now this month, in accordance with Bloomberg knowledge, with the trade going through rising uncertainties from looming US tariffs and Washington’s more durable export controls on China, in addition to rising international recession fears.
Overseas traders bought a internet Won2.8tn of the corporate’s shares this month, after the inventory value greater than doubled over the previous two years, pushed by the AI growth. The shares have fallen a few fifth from a January excessive.
“Earnings season gained’t matter with bigger forces at work,” Morgan Stanley analysts stated in a analysis notice. “The actual tariff influence on reminiscence resembles an iceberg, with extra hazard unseen under the floor and nonetheless approaching.”
President Donald Trump has stated tariffs on chip imports would start “very quickly”. The US has additionally imposed particular licensing necessities on Nvidia promoting its H20 chips to Chinese language clients, with the US chipmaker recording a $5.5bn earnings hit this month in consequence.
“This could have an effect on Hynix’s earnings, however the influence will most likely be restricted, given the availability scarcity of high-end HBM chips,” stated Macquarie’s Kim. “Constructive momentum is anticipated for the corporate this 12 months and subsequent except the worldwide economic system slips into recession.”
