SK Hynix Says Its Memory Supply Is Booked Through 2029

SK Hynix says customers have booked its DRAM and high-bandwidth memory output through 2029, with demand for its high-speed AI memory running at roughly twice the available supply. The South Korean chipmaker expects shortages to last through 2030. That long booking window puts a striking new number behind the AI boom: buyers are seeking memory years before it can be made. ⁶

That demand helped SK Hynix report third-quarter revenue of 104.6 trillion won and record operating profit of 83.33 trillion won, up 632% from a year earlier. Its operating margin reached about 80%. The company said long-term deals with 14 major customers cover more than half of planned production in 2027 and 2028. It also expects HBM4, a type of memory used in AI systems, to become its main HBM product in the fourth quarter. ^6,9

Those 2027 and 2028 commitments matter beyond SK Hynix. If supply stays tight, memory makers such as Micron and Samsung may benefit from stronger prices, while chip buyers could face limits on how quickly they can build AI systems. But the boom carries a familiar risk: producers may add too much capacity, leaving supply ahead of demand if technology firms cut spending. Analysts also warned that weaker AI investment and competition could make prices swing sharply. ^6,9

That risk will be tested as SK Hynix raises investment next year to expand advanced chip production. Management says HBM4 should lead its HBM shipments and revenue in the fourth quarter, while customer deals offer some visibility into demand through 2028. Investors will be watching whether new capacity arrives without ending the shortages the company expects through 2030. ^6,7