'World No.1' Samsung DRAM, Market Share Rises for Three Consecutive Quarters

43.9% Market Share in 3Q This Year, Steady Rise Since Last Year's 4Q
Gap with 2nd Place Widens to 16.3%p...Sales Also Increase Significantly

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyeyoung] Samsung Electronics, which holds an overwhelming No. 1 position in the memory semiconductor sector, has further widened the gap with its competitors. Samsung Electronics has increased its DRAM market share for three consecutive quarters.

According to market research firm Omdia on the 21st, Samsung Electronics maintained its global No. 1 position with a 43.9% share of the DRAM market in the third quarter of this year. Samsung's DRAM market share rose for three consecutive quarters from 41.0% in Q4 last year to 41.2% in Q1 this year, 43.2% in Q2, and 43.9% in Q3.

The gap with second-place SK Hynix (27.6%) has widened further. The difference in DRAM market share between the two companies, which was 11.7 percentage points in Q4 last year, steadily expanded to 12.4 percentage points in Q1, 15.0 percentage points in Q2, and 16.3 percentage points in Q3 this year.

The combined market share of first-place Samsung Electronics and second-place SK Hynix in the overall DRAM market increased from 70.0% in Q1 this year to 71.4% in Q2 and 71.5% in Q3. The top three companies, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron, accounted for 94.2% of the DRAM market in Q3.

Samsung Electronics, which increased its global market share, also saw a significant rise in DRAM sales revenue. Samsung's DRAM sales in Q3 this year reached $11.53 billion (approximately 13.73 trillion KRW), up about 60.8% from the same period last year (approximately 8.537 trillion KRW). This is attributed to the rise in average selling price (ASP) and increased shipment volume.

Meanwhile, the market expects the DRAM industry to rebound faster than anticipated next year due to data center expansions.

KB Securities stated, "Contrary to previous expectations that the four major North American data center companies, including Amazon and Microsoft, would reduce memory semiconductor orders, recent orders have steadily increased," and analyzed, "Next year's DRAM demand is expected to increase by 20-23% year-on-year, centered on the four major North American data center companies, exceeding Samsung Electronics' DRAM supply."

Daishin Securities also said, "The decline in memory semiconductor prices in Q4 this year will be limited compared to previous estimates," and "DRAM semiconductor prices are expected to re-enter an upcycle from Q3 next year." Morgan Stanley revised its DRAM price forecast for Q1 next year from a 10% decline to a 7% decline compared to the previous quarter.

Global investment bank Morgan Stanley, which predicted a memory downcycle in its August report titled "Winter is Coming," revised its forecast earlier this month, saying "Winter met global warming." Morgan Stanley mentioned the recovery in demand for PC DRAM and adjusted its expected DRAM price decline for Q1 next year from 10% to 7% compared to the previous quarter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.