China’s CXMT will raise its share of global DRAM sales from 9.5% to at least 12% by the end of 2027, gaining roughly US$3.9 billion revenue at the expense of Samsung and SK hynix.

On 13 October, CXMT announced plans to launch a denser server-memory chip by the end of 2026, challenging South Korean dominance of the premium market. The design shrinks each memory cell by about a third on paper, so one wafer holds more memory and costs less per chip. Samsung and SK hynix are not expected to introduce similar technology until 2028 – CXMT already sells chips for 5–10% less than Korean rivals. Existing supply contracts will protect Korean manufacturers in the short term, but revenue and market-share losses will grow as those contracts expire and customers switch to the cheaper alternative. Yesterday’s KOSPI declines of 7.4% for Samsung and 10.1% for SK hynix may mark the end of their stock boom rather than a one-day blip.