Key Highlights
- Korean Kospi benchmark surged 4.6% Monday, with memory chip manufacturers leading the advance
- Samsung shares climbed 5.7% while SK Hynix soared 8.3% amid AI-fueled semiconductor demand
- DRAM industry revenue reached $154.73 billion in Q2 2026, representing a 59.5% quarterly increase
- Combined market dominance of Samsung and SK Hynix accounts for approximately 64% of worldwide DRAM sales
- Memory chip prices projected to climb 13% to 18% during Q3 2026
Memory chip manufacturers in South Korea experienced substantial gains Monday as market participants continued to bet on artificial intelligence growth, lifting semiconductor stocks across the board.
The Kospi index finished trading 4.6% higher. Samsung advanced 5.7% while SK Hynix climbed 8.3%, with both companies reaching their highest closing prices in several months. SK Hynix concluded the session at 1.783 million won, whereas Samsung finished at 270,000 won.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 benchmark similarly advanced, posting a 2.1% gain. China’s mainland CSI 300 rose 0.6%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 0.9%.
A robust employment report from the United States on Friday likely contributed momentum to the rally. August payroll data revealed 162,000 new jobs, significantly exceeding analyst projections.
European bourses failed to mirror Asia’s positive momentum. The Stoxx 600 fell 0.2% during early sessions. Germany’s Dax index also declined 0.2% following a regional electoral victory by a right-wing political party. American exchanges remained shuttered for the Labor Day holiday.
Memory Chip Sector Records Substantial Revenue Expansion
The rally in Korean equities coincided with fresh statistics demonstrating robust expansion in the worldwide DRAM sector. Total industry revenue climbed to $154.73 billion during Q2 2026, marking a 59.5% jump from the previous quarter, according to analytics provider TrendForce.
Samsung maintained its leadership position with DRAM sales of $60.98 billion, representing a 63.4% quarterly gain. The company’s market dominance expanded from 38.5% to 39.4%. Samsung has been aggressively scaling production of its sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory technology, designated HBM4.
SK Hynix recorded DRAM sales of $38.59 billion, climbing 37.9%. Despite this growth, its market position contracted from 28.8% to 24.9%. This decline is partially attributed to HBM contractual arrangements, which involve extended-term agreements that delay the reflection of price appreciation.
Micron Technology secured third position, with revenue increasing 65.5% to $36 billion. Its market portion expanded from 22.4% to 23.3%, reducing the differential with SK Hynix.
Constrained Supply Meets Growing AI Requirements
Memory stockpiles continue to run lean throughout the sector. TrendForce anticipates supply expansion will remain constrained during Q3, sustaining upward momentum on pricing. DRAM costs are projected to increase between 13% and 18% in the upcoming quarter.
Certain personal computer and mobile device manufacturers may find these price escalations challenging to accommodate, potentially moderating the rate of increases.
Analyst projections for Samsung’s Q3 operating earnings have increased 12% during the past three months to 114.19 trillion won. Estimates for SK Hynix have risen 4% to 78.80 trillion won.
Requirements for AI-oriented memory products are anticipated to maintain strength as artificial intelligence companies persist in developing more sophisticated models and increasingly complex computational infrastructures.
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