Samsung and SK Hynix Initiate Capacity Expansion: How Will This Affect the Global Memory Industry Landscape?

格隆汇 June 30｜According to Yicai, analysts believe that the expansion plans of the two major Korean memory manufacturers are mainly aimed at server DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) products. Whether this will affect the competitive landscape in the storage sector depends on the capacity expansion plans released by other manufacturers in the future. TrendForce analyst Xu Jiayuan stated that mass production in the new factories will mostly begin between the second half of 2027 and 2028. Until then, the supply shortage of DRAM will remain difficult to reverse. Regarding whether the latest expansion plans by Korean firms will impact storage competition, he noted that AI-driven demand is growing strongly, and all suppliers are expected to gradually launch capacity expansion plans. Ultimately, each supplier’s market share will depend on the degree to which expansion plans are implemented and their customer composition. "Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix's expansion plans from 2026 to 2030 focus on securing long-term orders from major cloud companies, thereby increasing their market share in high-margin server DRAM and HBM."