South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix said Thursday that some customers have accelerated orders in anticipation of potential U.S. tariffs on semiconductors, contributing to improved market conditions. However, the company cautioned that it remains unclear whether this trend will persist.
South Korea’s SK Hynix, the world’s second-largest memory chipmaker, reported on Thursday that some customers have accelerated orders in anticipation of potential U.S. tariffs on semiconductors.
Speaking at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, Lee Sang-rak, SK Hynix’s Head of Global Sales and Marketing, noted that the early orders, combined with reduced inventory levels among clients, have contributed to favorable market conditions. However, he cautioned that it remains uncertain whether this trend will continue.
In January, SK Hynix projected a 10-20% decline in shipments of DRAM and NAND flash memory chips for the first quarter compared to the previous quarter. Meanwhile, U.S. chipmakers Micron and SanDisk, along with China’s YMTC, have reportedly raised memory chip prices, partly due to strong demand from the AI sector. These companies have not yet commented on the matter.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced in February that he intends to impose tariffs of approximately 25% on semiconductor imports, among other products. Analysts at Nomura noted this week that concerns over these potential tariffs have led to preemptive transfers of semiconductor inventory to the United States. However, they also cautioned that if the tariffs are implemented, they could lead to higher consumer prices and potentially dampen demand.
SK Hynix remains optimistic about its business outlook, particularly in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. CEO Kwak Noh-Jung told shareholders that demand for HBM chips, which are critical for AI applications, is expected to see “explosive growth” this year, supported by continued investments in data centers.
The company has already sold out its HBM sales for 2025 and plans to finalize 2026 sales agreements within the first half of this year to enhance revenue stability, Kwak said.
While some industry observers raised concerns about a slowdown in AI hardware spending—particularly after Chinese startup DeepSeek claimed to have developed cost-efficient AI models—Nvidia, a key player in the sector, recently reaffirmed strong demand for AI chips. Kwak suggested that companies like DeepSeek could ultimately contribute to medium-to-long-term demand for AI memory chips rather than reducing it.
Experts say COP30 failed to deliver concrete commitments on fossil fuels and deforestation despite high expectations....
The leader of Yemen’s southern separatists failed to travel to Riyadh for crisis talks on Wednesday, leaving his fate unclear and complicating effor...
A U.S. immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car in Minneapolis on Wednesday, local and federal officials said, amid an expande...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the United States to target Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechnya region, with an op...
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will stop defence contractors from paying dividends or buying back shares until weapons production speeds up, crit...
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint conference call on Sunday night from Florida with entrepreneur Elon Musk, Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Head of the National AI Directorate Erez Eskel.
The move is intended to combine digital innovation and long-term infrastructure planning with further modernise urban mobility while strengthening the country’s position as a key transit hub across Eurasia.
Kazakhstan has made a notable advance in the global Government AI Readiness Index, moving up to 60th place out of 195 countries in the 2025.
China has given the nod for car makers to sell Level 3 self-driving vehicles from as early as next year after it approved two electric sedans from Changan Auto and BAIC Motors.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
"Change is coming to Iran" according to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday (6 January). He warned Iran that "if you keep killing your people for wanting a better life, Donald Trump is going to kill you."
Tesla delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9%, as BYD becomes the top EV maker.
SpaceX will gradually lower 4,400 Starlink satellites this year to improve space safety.
Poland has asked the European Commission to investigate TikTok after artificial intelligence-generated content calling for the country to leave the European Union appeared on the platform, which Warsaw says was likely Russian disinformation.
Tianhui-7 satellite to be used for geographic mapping, land resource surveys, and scientific research.
Iran successfully launched three satellites on Sunday using a Russian Soyuz rocket from Russia’s Far East, marking the latest stage in growing Iran-Russia space cooperation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment