SK Hynix says readying HBM4 production as it seeks to retain lead over rivals

Core Viewpoint - SK Hynix has completed its internal certification for next-generation high-bandwidth memory 4 (HBM4) chips and established a production system to maintain its competitive edge in the market [1] Group 1: Company Developments - SK Hynix has shipped HBM4 12-layer chip samples to customers and aims to complete mass production preparations within the second half of this year [2] - The company is currently the main HBM supplier to Nvidia, with a projected market share of 66% this year, expected to remain in the low 60% range by 2026 [4] - An SK Hynix executive noted that the new HBM4 products include a customer-specific logic die, making it difficult to replace with rival products [7] Group 2: Market Position and Competitors - Shares of SK Hynix rose 7% to a record high, significantly outperforming the KOSPI index, driven by positive analyst sentiment regarding HBM4 production plans [5] - Samsung Electronics is attempting to catch up in the HBM market by adopting a more advanced 1c-nanometer node, while SK Hynix uses a 1b-nanometer process for HBM4 [5][6] - Year-to-date, SK Hynix shares have increased by 88.9%, outperforming the KOSPI's 41.5% gain, while Micron shares have risen by 78.9% [8]