Overview
- Samsung’s operating profit more than tripled to about 20 trillion won in Q4 2025, with the chip division earning a record 16.4 trillion won and contributing over 80% of total profit.
- Company executives forecast a “significant” memory shortfall to continue with limited supply expansion through 2026–27, while mobile profit fell 10% as rising component costs weighed on margins.
- Co-CEO TM Roh described the shortage as “unprecedented” and said he would not rule out raising product prices.
- Apple said current-quarter profitability is feeling the impact of higher memory costs as suppliers prioritize HBM for AI servers, and SK Hynix reported customers are trimming purchases or adjusting specifications.
- Market reports cite sharp HBM price increases and suggest Samsung plans to start HBM4 mass production early this year, though those timelines are reported rather than confirmed.