Samsung sees 95% growth in DRAM revenue, reclaims top spot, without focusing on consumer DRAM

Samsung strengthened its lead in the global DRAM market during the first quarter of 2026, benefiting from surging demand for AI-focused memory products and higher memory prices.

According to market research firm Omdia, global DRAM revenue reached a record $97.1 billion in Q1 2026, up 85.3% from the previous quarter. Samsung generated $37.4 billion in DRAM revenue, a 95.4% increase quarter-over-quarter, raising its market share from 36.5% to 38.6%.

The strong performance helped Samsung widen its lead over competitors. SK Hynix generated about $28 billion in revenue and saw its market share fall to 28.8%, down 4.1 percentage points from the previous quarter. Micron Technology remained in third place with $21.7 billion in revenue and a 22.4% market share, despite posting robust 81.6% growth.

Industry analysts attribute the surge to booming demand for AI infrastructure. Data centers running generative AI models require large amounts of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and advanced DDR5 DRAM, driving both shipments and prices higher. TrendForce data also shows Samsung benefiting from strong server DRAM demand and some of the largest increases in average selling prices.

China’s Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT) was another notable performer. The company nearly tripled its quarterly revenue to $7.3 billion, increasing its market share from 4.7% to 7.6%. While still well behind the industry’s top three suppliers, CXMT continues to expand its presence as China invests heavily in domestic semiconductor production and AI infrastructure.

For Samsung, the results highlight the growing importance of AI-driven memory demand. The company’s memory business remains a key profit driver, and continued investment in advanced DRAM technologies is expected to support growth through the rest of the year. However, analysts caution that supply increases and easing prices could moderate the pace of expansion in future quarters.

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