[News] SK hynix Flags Ongoing DRAM Tightness in 2H26, NAND at Similar Levels; HBM4 in Focus

Memory supply remains tight, and SK hynix addressed the situation during its earnings call. According to Aju News, the company said its DRAM inventory fell sharply year on year in the fourth quarter, adding that output is being shipped to customers immediately, leaving little room for inventory buildup.

The company added that DRAM inventory is expected to shrink further as the year moves into the second half, suggesting that customer supply conditions are likely to remain tight for some time, Aju News reports.

On NAND flash, the company noted that inventories, led by SSDs, have been declining since the latter half of last year and currently sit at levels comparable to DRAM, according to Aju News.

SK hynix Aims to Sustain Leadership in HBM4: Strategy and Outlook

SK hynix’s HBM4 supply strategy also drew attention during the earnings call. As reported by JoongAng Ilbo, the company said it is aiming to secure an overwhelming market share in HBM4, building on the dominance it achieved with HBM3 and HBM3E.

The company added that its competitiveness in the HBM market goes beyond technological leadership alone, noting that since the HBM2E era it has helped shape the market through close collaboration with customers and infrastructure partners. According to JoongAng Ilbo, SK hynix emphasized that its accumulated mass-production experience and the trust it has earned in product quality represent advantages that are difficult to replicate in the short term.

To support its goal of securing an overwhelming market share, SK hynix is targeting leadership in the HBM4 market with a focus on raising yields to levels comparable to its previous 12-layer HBM3E, ZDNet reports. The company also said that while it is currently maximizing production, it remains difficult to fully meet customer demand and expects some competitors to enter the market. Still, SK hynix stressed that its market leadership and position as a leading supplier will continue, according to ZDNet.

In addition, regarding HBM4 technology, SK hynix said, according to News Tomato, that customer performance requirements have been met using the 10-nanometer-class fifth-generation (1b) process applied to its existing products. The company added that it aims to secure demand by leveraging its proprietary packaging technology.

SK hynix Outlines Cautious Approach to U.S. Expansion

Beyond its memory supply strategy, SK hynix also briefly addressed questions about overseas expansion, particularly in the U.S. According to Newsis, the company said that regarding the anticipated U.S. semiconductor tariffs, it is currently monitoring discussions between the Korean and U.S. governments. The company added that overseas semiconductor fab investment involves numerous internal and external variables that must be carefully assessed, and said it would share its future direction at a later stage, Newsis reports.

Notably, while taking a cautious stance on large-scale manufacturing expansion in the U.S., SK hynix has already outlined plans for selective investment. The company announced that it will establish a U.S.-based AI solutions firm, tentatively named AI Company (AI Co.), leveraging its advanced chip technologies, including HBM, to provide optimized AI systems for data center customers. SK hynix said it will commit USD 10 billion to the venture, to be deployed on a capital-call basis.

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(Photo credit: SK hynix)