Yazılar

SK Hynix Reports Early Orders Ahead of Potential US Tariffs

/in /tarafından

South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix announced on Thursday that some customers have accelerated their orders in anticipation of potential US tariffs on semiconductors. Speaking at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, Lee Sang-rak, Head of Global Sales and Marketing, attributed recent favorable market conditions to this “pull-in” effect and reduced customer inventory levels. However, he cautioned that it remains uncertain whether this trend will continue.

In January, SK Hynix projected a 10%-20% drop in DRAM and NAND flash memory shipments for Q1 2024. However, demand from the AI sector has contributed to price increases by competitors such as Micron, SanDisk, and China’s YMTC. Reports suggest that fears of impending US semiconductor tariffs, potentially reaching 25%, have led to increased inventory transfers to the US.

Despite concerns about AI hardware spending, SK Hynix remains optimistic about explosive growth in high bandwidth memory (HBM) chip demand, especially as a key supplier to Nvidia. CEO Kwak Noh-Jung confirmed that HBM sales for 2025 have already been fully booked, with negotiations for 2026 volume expected to conclude in the first half of this year.

Micron’s Shares Drop as Margin Forecast Dampens AI Prospects

/in /tarafından

Micron Technology’s shares dropped 8% on Friday after the company issued a disappointing margin forecast, overshadowing strong quarterly revenue expectations driven by growing demand for its semiconductors used in artificial intelligence applications.

Despite being one of only three major suppliers of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips for data-heavy AI tasks, Micron’s forecast for adjusted gross margin fell below expectations. The company cited lower pricing for consumer memory chips, particularly NAND flash, as a key factor affecting profitability. NAND flash memory chips, used in products like smartphones and personal computers, remain in oversupply due to aggressive buying during the pandemic, which has led to weak pricing.

Micron projected a third-quarter adjusted gross margin of around 36.5%, slightly below analysts’ forecast of 36.9%. This would represent a 3 percentage-point drop from the previous quarter. The company’s chief business officer, Sumit Sadana, acknowledged the ongoing challenges in the NAND market, with the oversupply continuing to put pressure on margins. Micron has also been reducing NAND production, which has led to underutilization and higher fixed costs per unit.

However, the company’s prospects in AI remain strong, with a forecasted revenue boost driven by high demand for its HBM chips, particularly from key players like Nvidia. Morningstar analysts highlighted HBM as a key growth driver for Micron, with AI and data center demand expected to continue.