South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix has surpassed Samsung Electronics to become the country’s most valuable listed company, marking a major turnaround for a company that nearly collapsed two decades ago due to heavy debt.
The company’s market value rose sharply on Monday as SK Hynix benefited from the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, becoming a leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in advanced AI systems.
SK Hynix shares jumped 5.6%, pushing its market capitalisation to about 2,080.4 trillion won, slightly above Samsung Electronics’ 2,066.7 trillion won value.
The company’s success has been driven by strong demand for HBM chips, which support AI technologies used by companies such as Nvidia and Google.
AI development has transformed the semiconductor industry, turning specialised memory chips from ordinary products into critical components for powering advanced AI models.
While SK Hynix mainly focuses on memory chips, Samsung also produces smartphones, televisions, and other electronic devices. Samsung had held the position as South Korea’s top company since 2000.
Analysts said SK Hynix’s decision to continue investing in HBM technology during a difficult period in the memory chip industry helped it become a global leader.
By 2025, SK Hynix controlled about 61% of the global HBM market, ahead of Samsung with 17% and Micron with 21%.
The company, originally founded as part of Hyundai in 1983, later became part of SK Group. It survived a major financial crisis in the early 2000s and has since transformed into one of the world’s most important semiconductor companies.
In 2023, SK Hynix suffered a major loss as memory chip prices fell, but it recovered strongly as AI demand increased, reporting record profits in 2024.
Analysts say SK Hynix’s growth could also challenge Samsung’s position as the world’s largest DRAM producer in the coming years.
Reuters reported that SK Hynix is also considering a planned listing on the Nasdaq in the United States, a move that could attract more international investors.
.jpeg)
.jpeg "Sunayen kofofin aljanna guda takwas 8")
0 Comment about the Post: