South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix currently control 83% of the global memory market. Both companies are competing to secure dominance by strengthening partnerships with major U.S. AI firms, including Nvidia and OpenAI, to supply high-bandwidth memory (HBM).
SK Hynix maintains a lead in HBM technology and has begun construction on a $4 billion advanced packaging facility in Indiana. Meanwhile, Samsung has doubled its market share over the past year and joined OpenAI’s Stargate project in October 2025.
The companies are involved in a national initiative to deploy 260 000 Nvidia GPUs, with Samsung receiving 50 000 units. In June 2026, Samsung integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex for its global workforce to enhance internal operations.
Geopolitical tensions complicate these strategies, as both firms maintain legacy plants in China. Following the 2025 cancellation of the Validated End User Program by the Trump administration, companies must now navigate annual licensing processes for exporting chipmaking tools to China.
Analysts note that Nvidia’s allocation decisions remain the primary driver of HBM market share. Samsung aims to increase its competitiveness by targeting supply roles for Nvidia’s Vera Rubin chips and exploring partnerships with alternative suppliers like AMD and Broadcom.
