Report: SK Hynix secures about 70% of Nvidia's HBM4 supply; Samsung to begin shipments next month.

The competitive landscape for next-generation high-bandwidth memory HBM4 supply is taking shape. SK Hynix is expected to win about 70% of Nvidia’s HBM4 orders for the Vera Rubin platform, far exceeding previous market expectations, while Samsung Electronics is seeking to reclaim market share through technological upgrades and pricing strategies.

According to media reports on the 28th, citing sources, Nvidia is expected to allocate roughly two thirds of its HBM4 demand for the Vera Rubin platform to SK Hynix, with the specific share approaching 70%. This is much higher than the previously anticipated level of just over 50%.

Meanwhile, industry sources report that Samsung Electronics will officially begin shipping HBM4 products to major AI chip clients such as Nvidia and AMD next month. This signifies that, after successful final certification tests, customers have placed mass production orders rather than just requesting samples.

According to Dealsite, sources reveal the pricing for HBM4 supplied to Nvidia by the two companies is comparable, indicating Samsung’s pricing capability has caught up with SK Hynix. Industry sources expect the price of 12-layer HBM4 products to exceed $600.

SK Hynix Consolidates Leading Position

SK Hynix's supply share far exceeds previous market expectations. Citing analyst views, the report highlights this reflects market confidence in SK Hynix’s long-term HBM partnerships with key clients like Nvidia, as well as trust built through consistently maintaining high yields in mass production.

As the HBM market moves beyond pure technological competition, stable quality and ability to mass-produce are increasingly seen as core competitive advantages. The report states that SK Hynix established its HBM4 mass production system as early as last September, subsequently providing Nvidia with a large number of paid samples, which smoothly passed final validation. SK Hynix is thus moving toward full-scale mass production of the final version of HBM4 products to meet key clients’ timelines.

While strengthening its HBM business, SK Hynix is also expanding its strategic layout in the AI ecosystem. According to an earlier Wallstreetcn article, SK Hynix plans to set up a dedicated AI investment unit in the US to centrally manage SK Group’s scattered AI-related investments; the new unit is expected to take over about KRW 10 trillion in overseas AI assets held by the group.

The first batch of assets is expected to include shares in the American small modular reactor company TerraPower held by SK Inc. and SK Innovation. This move aims to speed up investment decision-making and enhance professional capability.

Samsung Launches Technological Counteroffensive

Reports say Samsung is seeking peak performance with one-generation-ahead technical specs. Its HBM4 products use sixth-generation (1c) 10nm-class DRAM, one generation ahead of competitors, and employs 4nm foundry for logic chips, leading competitors by several generations in controller integration.

Although Samsung previously priced its 12-layer HBM3E about 30% lower than SK Hynix, it seeks price parity in HBM4 negotiations, ultimately achieving similar pricing. The two companies’ HBM4 supply prices to Nvidia have essentially equalized.

According to EBN, even though SK Hynix received most of Nvidia’s supply share, the market environment remains favorable to both companies. Surging AI chip demand from global tech companies like Nvidia, AMD, Google, and Microsoft is driving up HBM demand and boosting HBM3E and HBM4 prices.

EBN adds Samsung Electronics’ share in the global HBM market is expected to exceed 30% this year. With solid partnerships with AMD and Google, if these clients’ AI chip demand accelerates, Samsung’s HBM sales revenue could grow even faster.

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