SK Hynix, a leading supplier of RAM, made headlines on July 10, 2026, with its remarkable debut on Wall Street, opening at $170 per share. This milestone was driven by a surge in demand for memory components, particularly from the booming AI industry.
Record-breaking Wall Street Launch
On its first day of trading, SK Hynix raised $26.5 billion, surpassing Alibaba’s previous record for the largest debut by a foreign company. This achievement follows a valuation of $1 trillion reached in May, briefly making SK Hynix South Korea’s most valuable company, ahead of Samsung.
The South Korean chipmaker is now one of the key players in the global memory market, holding a significant 29% share of the DRAM sector, according to Counterpoint data.
Demand Surge Driven by AI Growth
The increasing reliance on AI technologies has created an unprecedented demand for memory components. Major tech firms such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google are utilizing DRAM to power their AI servers, while high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is essential for advanced AI chips like Nvidia’s Blackwell Ultra.
As a result, SK Hynix, along with Samsung (38% market share) and Micron (22% market share), is prioritizing high-paying AI customers over traditional device manufacturers.
Future Capacity Expansion Plans
In response to ongoing shortages, Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, announced plans to increase memory chip production capacity over the next five years. This strategy aims to alleviate a shortage that could persist until 2030, as the demand for RAM continues to grow amid the AI boom.
- SK Hynix opened at $170 per share.
- Raised $26.5 billion in its debut.
- Achieved a $1 trillion valuation in May 2026.
- Controls 29% of the global DRAM market.
- Plans to expand memory chip capacity over 5 years.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by The Verge. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
