Samsung Electronics has maintained its position as the global leader in the DRAM market, widening its lead over rival SK hynix, while SK hynix continues to dominate the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) segment, according to new industry data.
Market research firm Counterpoint Research reported that Samsung held a 38% share of the global DRAM market in the first quarter of the year, measured by revenue. SK hynix followed with 29%, while U.S.-based Micron accounted for 22%.
Samsung has consolidated its leadership after briefly losing the top spot to SK hynix in the first half of last year. The two companies were tied at 33% in the third quarter before Samsung regained the lead in the fourth quarter. In the most recent quarter, the gap between Samsung and SK hynix widened to nine percentage points.
The DRAM market has seen strong growth, driven by recovering demand and rising shipments of server and high-value memory products. Overall market revenue surged sharply compared with both the previous quarter and the same period last year, reflecting a strong cyclical upturn in memory pricing.
In contrast, SK hynix remains firmly ahead in the HBM market, a critical component for artificial intelligence accelerators. The company captured a 58% share in the first quarter, while Samsung Electronics and Micron each held 21%, according to Counterpoint Research.
Although SK hynix’s share declined from 69% a year earlier, it continues to hold a majority position, supported by strong demand for advanced HBM3E products used in AI computing systems. Samsung, meanwhile, is expected to narrow the gap going forward as it ramps up supply of next-generation HBM4 chips, including early shipments to NVIDIA.
The report also highlighted growing competition from Chinese memory makers. CXMT (ChangXin Memory Technologies) increased its DRAM market share from 3% to 8% year-on-year, benefiting from expanding domestic capacity and improving supply conditions.
In the NAND flash segment, Samsung also retained the top position with a 29% revenue share, followed by SK hynix at 18% and Kioxia at 14%. Micron, SanDisk, and China’s YMTC each held around 13%.
YMTC notably increased its NAND share from 8% a year earlier, reflecting aggressive expansion amid supply constraints and rising prices in the memory market.
Overall, the memory industry continues to be reshaped by the artificial intelligence boom, with clear segmentation emerging: Samsung leading in DRAM, SK hynix dominating HBM, and intensified competition across NAND and emerging Chinese players.
