韩媒称“三星、SK海力士预计今年继续减产NAND闪存”，以追求利润最大化

Core Viewpoint - Despite the surge in demand driven by artificial intelligence, South Korea's major memory chip manufacturers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, will continue to cut NAND flash production this year, which is expected to lead to rising NAND prices across various sectors, enhancing profit margins comparable to DRAM for both companies [1][4]. Group 1: NAND Production and Market Dynamics - Samsung's NAND wafer production is projected to decrease from 4.9 million units last year to 4.68 million units this year, even lower than the reduction planned for 2024 due to declining profitability [1]. - SK Hynix's NAND production is expected to drop from approximately 1.9 million units last year to 1.7 million units this year [1]. - Together, Samsung and SK Hynix hold over 60% of the global NAND flash market share, and their production cuts are occurring amid intensified competition in AI-driven applications [1][4]. Group 2: Price Expectations - Major market research firms anticipate a comprehensive increase in NAND prices starting from the first quarter of this year, with TrendForce predicting a contract price rise of 33% to 38% compared to the previous quarter [6]. - IDC forecasts a 17% growth rate in NAND supply this year, which is below the average levels seen in recent years [6]. Group 3: Record Bonuses and Profitability - The global storage chip supercycle driven by AI has resulted in historic profits, prompting Samsung and SK Hynix to issue their largest performance bonuses in years [2][9]. - Samsung's semiconductor division has confirmed that eligible employees will receive bonuses equivalent to 47% of their base annual salary, a stark contrast to the zero bonus rate in 2023 due to market downturns [9]. - SK Hynix has adopted a more aggressive profit-sharing plan, allocating 10% of its operating profit for bonuses, with average bonuses expected to exceed 140 million KRW, marking a historical high [9].