AI-Driven Demand Drives SK Hynix Toward Trillion-Dollar Threshold
The rapid global expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies has significantly boosted the fortunes of chip manufacturing companies. Following Samsung Electronics, another South Korean chip giant, SK Hynix, is now on the verge of reaching the landmark $1 trillion market valuation. This development positions South Korea at the center of Asia’s AI revolution.
Surging Share Prices
In 2025, SK Hynix’s share price surged by 274 percent, followed by an additional 200 percent increase during the first five months of 2026. This remarkable growth has been primarily driven by soaring demand for high-performance “high-bandwidth memory” used in AI servers, along with conventional memory chips. As of Wednesday’s market close, the company’s total market capitalization stood at approximately $948 billion.
A New Record for South Korea
If SK Hynix crosses the $1 trillion mark, South Korea will become the first country outside the United States to have two companies—Samsung and SK Hynix—in the trillion-dollar club. Notably, Samsung became the first South Korean company to achieve this milestone earlier this month. Meanwhile, TSMC remains Asia’s most valuable company, with a market valuation of $1.83 trillion.
Rising in Global Rankings
Just 16 months ago, SK Hynix’s market value was below $100 billion. Today, it is competing with global giants such as Walmart and Berkshire Hathaway, led by renowned investor Warren Buffett. The rally in chipmakers’ stocks has also propelled South Korea’s benchmark index, KOSPI, to record highs.
Analysts See Continued Momentum
Market analyst Fabien Yip noted that investor enthusiasm for AI-related stocks is surging globally, particularly in South Korea and Japan. The critical role of hardware suppliers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC in the AI ecosystem has made them indispensable to the global technology supply chain.
According to technology experts, SK Hynix’s momentum could accelerate further in the coming months, especially as a key partner of NVIDIA, a leading manufacturer of AI processors.
DBTech/BMT/OR
