AI demand surges; Korean companies' North American sales grow by 14%, SK Hynix's sales in the US soar by 65%.

February 10—According to a report from South Korean tech media ETNews, major South Korean companies saw their sales in the North American market grow by more than 14% year-on-year in the first three quarters before 2025, with memory chip giant SK Hynix standing out the most: its revenue in the US market soared by more than 65% year-on-year. According to data from corporate analytics firm Leaders Index cited by ETNews, the sales growth of major South Korean companies in North America was mainly driven by the IT, electronics, and pharmaceutical/biotech industries, while segments such as secondary batteries declined. Among the top 500 South Korean companies by revenue, 67 companies that publicly disclosed information and their 194 subsidiaries achieved cumulative North American sales of 343.8 trillion KRW in the third quarter last year, a year-on-year increase of 14.1%. The IT and electronics sectors have become the main engine for South Korean companies’ North American sales growth, with sales reaching 157.9 trillion KRW, up 20.7% year-on-year. This growth momentum mainly benefited from a surge in demand for memory chips driven by the AI infrastructure investment boom since the second half of 2025. Both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are accelerating supply to meet AI-driven demand growth. SK Hynix stood out in this sector, with its North American market revenue soaring 65.5% to 45.2 trillion KRW, making the region account for over 70% of its total sales. Another memory chip giant, Samsung Electronics, also saw growth, with North American sales climbing 10.2% year-on-year to 93.3 trillion KRW. SK Hynix Bets on the US AI Market At the end of January, SK Hynix announced it would establish an AI solutions company tentatively named “AI Company” in the US. The company plans to provide system-level optimization services for AI data center customers based on advanced chip technologies, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM). According to The Korea Times, SK Hynix has allocated $10 billion to support this plan. The company may also transform its US subsidiary Solidigm, which focuses on NAND flash memory, into an AI company, while spinning off a new subsidiary from Solidigm to maintain its existing business. The report cited industry analysts as saying that the layout focuses on two strategic objectives: first, to establish an investment and R&D hub in the core US AI industry market; second, to further integrate and activate Solidigm’s existing technological capabilities and explore new growth paths. Samsung’s Texas Factory Accelerates Samsung Electronics’ wafer plant project in Taylor, Texas, has made substantial progress. According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, the project has obtained temporary operation permits for some areas under construction, creating conditions to speed up engineering work. Citing informed sources, the report says Samsung plans to start testing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment as early as March this year, aiming for mass production of 2-nanometer process chips in the second half of 2026. After ramping up capacity, the plant is expected to produce AI5 chips for Tesla under a long-term contract that extends through 2033, and will subsequently supply the next-generation AI6 chips. Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market has risks; investment needs caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions contained herein fit their particular circumstances. Investing accordingly is at your own risk.