The memory giant reported 2.77 trillion won (about $1.95 billion) in corporate tax payment for the first half of 2025, nearly tripling 908.9 billion won paid by No. 2 taxpayer, according to disclosures from Korea's top 50 listed companies.
The hefty tax bill reflects SK hynix's staggering January-June performance, with revenue reaching 35.49 trillion won on an operating profit of 15.21 trillion won. On a consolidated basis, the chipmaker's operating profit surged to 16.65 trillion won, far eclipsing 11.36 trillion won posted by Samsung Electronics, long seen as untouchable as the country’s most valuable company.
A core supplier to AI behemoth NVIDIA, the company has found growth engine in the United States. SK hynix America’s revenue more than doubled to 24.75 trillion won from 12.19 trillion won a year earlier. Total U.S. sales reached 27.83 trillion won, contributing to bulky 70 percent of the company's consolidated first-half revenue.
The company’s fast push into high-bandwidth memory (HBM) has helped it to dethrone Samsung Electronics in the DRAM market for the first time. According to their disclosures, SK hynix accounted for 36.3 percent of DRAM sales as of June, edging out Samsung with 32.7 percent.
It commands 50 percent of HBM — crucial in powering AI chips — buttressing the country’s record chip exports of $73.31 billion in the first half. The company has reportedly sold out its entire 2025 HBM production and is currently negotiating contracts for 2026 deliveries.
The chipmaker has lifted government coffers and stock market as the key driver behind the KOSPI’s record run. Its shares closed Tuesday at a fresh historic high of 348,500, more than twice expensive from 152,800 a year ago, and further humbling Samsung Electronics whose stock gained 24 percent from 63,100 won to 78,850 won.
It also has become new favorite of foreign investors. Foreigners own 56.25 percent of total SK hynix shares versus Samsung's 50.78 percent.
"SK hynix remains a stunning winner on insatiable foreign appetite thanks to red-hot HBM sales fueling corporate bottom line," observed Yim So-jung, analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities Co.
Investment sentiment remains upbeat, given its comfortable position in AI memory market.
"Even if competitors enter NVIDIA's supply chain, we believe it will be difficult for them to catch up with SK hynix's cost competitiveness and technological superiority in the short term," said Ryu Young-ho of NH Investment & Securities Co.
He noted NVIDIA recently raised its HBM4 specifications favoring SK hynix, which has already delivered samples ahead of competitors. “We expect the HBM contract details to be confirmed within one to two months, considering the launch timing of NVIDIA's next-generation AI chip Rubin,” Ryu added.
reporter
Kim Dong-young
davekim0807@ajupress.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
