SK hynix sells out its DRAM, NAND, and HBM chip supply to Nvidia through 2026 as AI demand outpaces Samsung and Micron's capacity

SK hynix has just announced that its production capacity for DRAM, NAND, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is fully booked all through 2026. This milestone was driven in large part by a major order from Nvidia. The world largest company by market capitalization powers its AI processors including the H100 and B200 models with SK hynix's HBM semiconductors.

SK hynix pulled had a blowout Q3 2025 with a profit of $8 billion (₩11.4 trillion), a 62% increase year-on-year. The company also grew revenue by 39% to ₩22.4 trillion. Most of that growth came from sales of HBM3E chips that Nvidia acquired to power their data center GPUs. As a result, their market value has grown beyond that of their competitors.

Research firm TrendForce estimates that SK hynix now controls over half of the global HBM market, while Samsung and Micron trail with roughly one-quarter each. The company’s latest financial results show how deeply intertwined the AI hardware ecosystem has become, with Nvidia’s GPU dominance directly fueling SK hynix’s record run.

Locked-in capacity and the next wave of AI chips

“We’ve sold out our DRAM, NAND, and HBM capacity for next year,” said Kim Kyu-hyun, head of DRAM marketing at SK hynix. He also confirmed that customers have already reserved manufacturing slots into 2026. SK hynix will almost be unable to take on new orders next year.

The company is preparing to increase production of its HBM4 memory by late 2025. If this is successfully put in place, it promises a leap in bandwidth and energy efficiency. The next-generation chips are expected to anchor Nvidia’s upcoming AI processors and supercomputing platforms.

SK hynix has also signed supply agreements with OpenAI for its planned Stargate supercomputer project. The project is expected to more than double the industry’s total HBM requirements.

The new AI silicon hierarchy

SK hynix’s performance shows a larger power shift in tech. Memory makers are now key players in AI infrastructure. “HBM demand continues to increase rapidly, so it will be difficult for supply to catch up any time soon,” said Kim Ki-tae, head of HBM sales and marketing.

Citi Research projects the global HBM market will reach US$43 billion by 2027, with SK hynix and Nvidia’s partnership positioning both firms at the center of the AI semiconductor boom, leaving Samsung and Micron racing to catch up.