HBM revenue soars threefold, and Samsung Electronics' quarterly profit may set a new record for Korean companies.

A global AI investment boom is driving a surge in demand for high-bandwidth memory, and Samsung Electronics’ first-quarter HBM revenue is up more than threefold year over year. Combined with a sharp rise in the prices of mainstream DRAM, the company’s quarterly operating profit is expected to break above 40 trillion won for the first time, setting a new historical record for Korean companies.

Citing insiders, the Seoul Economic Daily reported that Samsung Electronics’ first-quarter HBM revenue growth exceeded 300%, with the main driver coming from a significant increase in its supply volumes to Nvidia. Samsung Electronics will officially release its first-quarter results next week.

Meanwhile, the mainstream DRAM market is also tight on supply. Using DDR4 8Gb as a benchmark, current prices are up by about 10 times compared with the first quarter of last year, and next year’s inventory procurement orders have already sold out.

Market expectations are that Samsung Electronics’ first-quarter revenue will exceed 120 trillion won, with operating profit approaching and potentially surpassing the 40 trillion won threshold.

HBM supply surges, Nvidia orders are the core driver

The direct reason behind the sharp jump in first-quarter HBM revenue is the rapid expansion of its supply volumes to Nvidia. Since Samsung Electronics began supplying its fifth-generation HBM3E products to Nvidia starting from the second half of last year, related revenue has immediately shown an upward, almost vertical, trend.

In February of this year, Samsung Electronics further announced that it has achieved mass production of the sixth-generation HBM4 first worldwide. The product will be used in Nvidia’s next-generation AI accelerator, “Vera Rubin.”

This means Samsung Electronics has established a continuous track in its high-end HBM product line—from supply to iteration—helping it strengthen its key position in the AI chip supply chain.

Mainstream DRAM sees both price and volume rise, next year’s orders are locked in early

Beyond HBM, the mainstream DRAM market is also showing an unusually strong momentum. According to industry insiders, current prices for DDR4 8Gb specification products are up by about 10 times versus the first quarter of last year, and customer orders have already extended to next year, with capacity nearly fully sold out.

The simultaneous increase in both price and volume has provided a solid foundation for Samsung Electronics’ first-quarter performance. With high-margin HBM and mainstream DRAM benefiting from both rising prices and volumes, external expectations for its quarterly profitability continue to be revised upward.

Quarterly operating profit may set a new all-time high for a Korean company

Taking the above factors together, expectations for Samsung Electronics’ first-quarter results have heated up significantly. One industry participant said, “Samsung’s first-quarter operating profit is expected to be around 40 trillion won.”

If this forecast holds true, Samsung’s quarterly operating profit of 40 trillion won would become the highest record for any Korean company ever, and its revenue scale of 120 trillion won would also refresh Samsung Electronics’ own quarterly record.

Samsung Electronics will officially disclose its first-quarter financial data next week, at which time the above expectations will receive final verification.

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