AI-driven demand propels Samsung’s DRAM recovery

November 21, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — Global memory suppliers saw a sharp rebound in the third quarter as demand from AI data centers accelerated. Market data from ChinaFlashMarket (CFM) shows that Samsung Electronics regained the top position in the DRAM market with $13.94 billion in revenue, up nearly 30% quarter-on-quarter and representing a 34.8% share. Samsung had briefly ceded leadership in the first half of the year due to a temporary slowdown in the HBM segment but recovered as shipments resumed.

SK Hynix posted $13.79 billion in DRAM revenue, taking 34.4% of the market and narrowing the gap with Samsung to 0.4 percentage points. Micron remained in third place with $8.98 billion, accounting for 22.4%. The top three suppliers continued to dominate the sector.

HBM shipment surge reshapes competitive dynamics

CFM reported that Samsung’s shipments of high-bandwidth memory rose 85% from the previous quarter, supported by the rollout of fifth-generation HBM3E for Nvidia. Strong AI server demand has tightened DRAM supply for PCs and smartphones, pushing contract prices higher.

Global memory market hits record as pricing stays firm

Driven by this momentum, the global DRAM market reached a record $40.04 billion in the quarter, up 24.7% from Q2 and 54% from a year earlier. The NAND flash market also strengthened, with revenue climbing 16.8% to $18.42 billion.

Samsung maintained its leadership in NAND, generating $5.37 billion and capturing 29.1% of the market. SK Hynix, Kioxia, Western Digital and Micron followed.

CFM expects memory prices to remain firm in the fourth quarter as supply stays tight and supplier inventories remain low, supporting another potential record for the industry.