SK Hynix Financial Report: Q2 Operating Profit at 60.5 Trillion KRW Falls Short of Market Expectations, Capital Expenditure Expected to Reach 40 Trillion KRW in 2026

BlockBeats reported that on July 29, SK Hynix's financial report disclosed that HBM4 has achieved mass production and shipments in the second quarter, with plans to expand production and supply in the second half of the year. HBM4E samples were delivered in the first half of the year, adopting the most advanced process technology. The company emphasized that it will continue to consolidate its leading position in HBM with high quality, high yield, stable supply, cost competitiveness, and top performance. At the same time, SK Hynix has signed long-term chip supply agreements with 10 customers to enhance medium- to long-term demand visibility and manage price fluctuations, and is evaluating additional shareholder return measures to increase the scale and sustainability of returns. Capital expenditure is expected to reach a high level of around 40 trillion KRW in 2026.

In the third quarter, DRAM shipment volume is expected to grow by around 10% quarter-on-quarter, while NAND shipment volume will see low single-digit quarter-on-quarter growth. As supply tightness eases and AI application expands, the growth momentum for smartphones and PCs will gradually recover, but due to memory supply challenges, related sales will be temporarily adjusted. Improvements in AI model and software efficiency will expand accessibility and drive infrastructure demand. In 2026, DRAM market demand is expected to achieve year-on-year growth in the mid-range of 20%-30%, while NAND year-on-year growth will be at the higher end of the 10%-20% range.