Samsung warns AI memory shortage will worsen into 2027 as HBM supply sells out

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📅 2026-10-31 • Источник
PYMNTS

Samsung warns AI memory shortage will worsen into 2027 as HBM supply sells out

Samsung has reported record operating profit of 107.4 trillion won for the third quarter of 2026, approximately 80 billion US dollars, driven by demand linked to AI. Memory has moved to the center of the AI buildout, and the company's results reflect that shift. Alongside the results, Samsung cautioned that the supply situation for memory used in AI systems will tighten further through 2027 rather than ease.

HBM sold out for 2027

The most concrete data point concerns high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, the stacked memory type placed next to AI accelerators that has become one of the most constrained components in AI infrastructure. Samsung said its HBM supply for 2027 is already sold out. Capacity has been committed through long-term contracts with ten major customers, and negotiations with ten additional customers are underway. Long-term contracting means the available 2027 output is largely spoken for before the year begins. South Korean business outlets covering the earnings calls report the tightness could extend into 2027–2028.

Demand exceeds supply

By Samsung’s estimate, AI-driven demand in 2027 will significantly exceed industry supply. The company frames this as an industry-wide imbalance rather than a backlog specific to its own order book, which implies that other buyers face the same constrained market.

The same picture at SK Hynix

SK Hynix has said its DRAM and HBM are effectively sold out through 2029, per the company’s statement at its earnings call. Taken together, the two announcements indicate that the majority of near-term memory capacity in the industry is already committed under long-term agreements, several years forward in the case of HBM.

What it means for buyers

For organizations planning AI infrastructure purchases, memory pricing and availability are likely to remain tight into 2027, and securing HBM capacity generally requires commitments made well in advance of delivery. Buyers of servers and workstations with conventional memory face the same demand pressure reflected in broader DRAM market reporting.

The figures come from company announcements around quarterly results, and the usual caveat applies that guidance can change. Data points worth tracking are contract coverage for 2027 capacity, additional fabrication capacity coming online, and pricing trends in quarterly reports of both memory makers.

Sources
pymnts.com — https://pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2026/samsung-warns-ai-memory-shortage-will-worsen-through-2027
mk.co.kr — https://www.mk.co.kr/en/business/12190217
pulse.mk.co.kr — https://pulse.mk.co.kr/news/english/12191373