Samsung remains memory-chip market leader on AI demand
Global DRAM revenue rose sharply in the third quarter, but mainly because of higher prices rather than much higher volumes.
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Samsung Electronics retained first place in the global DRAM memory-chip market in the third quarter. According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung accounted for 38 per cent of revenue, while total DRAM revenue was 369 per cent higher than a year earlier due to demand from AI and data centres.
The figures come from Counterpoint Research’s Global Memory Tracker, published on 5 November. The research firm writes that strong demand for AI accelerators and data centres pushed up memory prices and manufacturers’ revenue. Samsung remained the market leader, with a 38 per cent share of revenue.
The growth does not only say something about the number of memory chips sold. Counterpoint explicitly calls this a price-driven cycle: the firm reports an increase of about 4 per cent in the number of bits shipped, while DRAM revenue came to nearly 200 billion dollars. The average selling price was 1.9 dollars per gigabit.
According to Counterpoint, SK hynix’s revenue grew by more than 40 per cent compared with the previous quarter, narrowing the gap with Samsung. Micron also benefited from demand for memory for AI data centres, but according to Counterpoint grew more slowly than Samsung and SK hynix. For CXMT, Counterpoint says the revenue share fell from 10 per cent in the second quarter to 9 per cent in the third.
Demand is not coming exclusively from specialised AI memory. Counterpoint reports that conventional DDR and LPDDR memory grew faster in the third quarter than HBM, the type of memory widely used in AI accelerators. According to the firm, the amount of DRAM per server is also increasing as new AI systems are rolled out.
The market researcher expects prices to remain high next year. That is a forecast, not an established fact. According to Counterpoint, new factories would only be able to add production from 2028, while long-term supply contracts are supporting price developments.
For European consumers and businesses, the effect is indirect but relevant. Memory is used in smartphones, computers and servers. Higher prices could prompt manufacturers to raise product prices, discontinue cheaper models or postpone investments. Counterpoint warns that the current increase in revenue is mainly a sign of scarcity and rising prices, not of equally large volume growth.
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Both sides of the figures
▲ Bright spots
- According to Counterpoint, Samsung retained 38 per cent of global DRAM revenue.
- Demand for memory for AI data centres is supporting manufacturers’ revenue.
▼ Concerns
- The number of bits shipped rose by only about 4 per cent, against revenue growth of 369 per cent.
- According to the market analysis, higher memory prices could put pressure on adjacent markets such as smartphones and consumer electronics.
Critical note
The revenue growth is mainly nominal and price-driven: Counterpoint cites an average price of 1.9 dollars per gigabit and only about 4 per cent more bits shipped. The figures therefore do not show that physical chip volume grew to the same extent.
Who notices what
- Businesses
- Smartphone, computer and server manufacturers could face higher component costs and may have to adjust their product mix.
- Households
- Memory-intensive devices could become more expensive or be replaced less quickly.
- Investors
- Memory producers are benefiting from higher prices, but their revenue remains dependent on the durability of AI investment.
Every point comes from the article’s sources and was included in the fact check.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The market shares, revenue growth, bit growth and average price have been checked against the current Counterpoint publication. Expectations about future prices and factory capacity are clearly presented as forecasts.
- confirmed Samsung accounted for 38 per cent of DRAM revenue in the third quarter. — Counterpoint calls Samsung the market leader, with a 38 per cent share. source
- confirmed DRAM revenue rose by 369 per cent year on year. — This percentage appears in the current Counterpoint publication. source
- confirmed The number of bits shipped rose by about 4 per cent. — Counterpoint reports this alongside the revenue growth. source
- confirmed The average selling price was 1.9 dollars per gigabit. — This appears in Counterpoint’s price analysis. source
- confirmed According to Counterpoint, new factories will only add production from 2028. — This is presented as Counterpoint’s expectation. source
Editor's note
The current market distribution and price analysis come from Counterpoint Research. Yonhap confirms Samsung’s strong performance in the third quarter, but the precise DRAM market shares in this article are attributed solely to Counterpoint.Sources
- Q3 2026 DRAM Super-Cycle Nears $200B: Samsung Holds No. 1 with 38%, SK hynix Gains — Counterpoint Research
- Samsung Electronics posts record profit in Q3, with memory biz on roll amid AI supercycle — Yonhap News Agency
More on this in Dutch media
- Trouw — „samsung dram”
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- De Telegraaf — „samsung dram”