Samsung expects operating profit of roughly $80 billion (about 26 trillion HUF) for the three months ended in September, a figure that would mark the company’s fourth straight record quarter. The surge is largely attributed to soaring demand for memory chips used in artificial-intelligence data centers.
What’s behind the jump?
Demand for memory modules has risen as Nvidia and other AI companies expand compute capacity, directly benefiting Samsung. Along with SK Hynix and U.S.-based Micron, Samsung is one of the world’s leading memory-chip manufacturers and is therefore a primary beneficiary of the current AI-driven demand spike.
Industry- and government-level investment is amplifying the trend. Alphabet, Amazon and Meta are reported to plan a combined expenditure of more than $650 billion on AI development this year. In South Korea, at least $880 billion in investment programs — led by Samsung and SK Hynix — aim to bolster domestic chip production. Japan, China and Taiwan are also mobilizing significant funds to support their semiconductor industries.
Consumer electronics also contributing
Samsung’s consumer-electronics division is adding to the company’s profitability. In August the firm launched new foldable phones, including refreshed models in the Galaxy Fold series. Samsung said it will publish its full third-quarter results at the end of October.
Downsides: shortages and price pressure
The jump in memory demand has already produced global shortages and significant price increases. While that boosts chipmakers’ revenues in the near term, it also risks raising the prices of PCs and smartphones over time, with potential knock-on effects for consumer demand and inflationary pressure.
