Samsung Reports Record $80.5 Billion Profit Amid AI Chip Surge

Samsung Electronics posted its highest operating profit to date this quarter, driven by strong sales of memory chips for artificial intelligence systems.

The company reported 107.4 trillion won, or $80.5 billion, in operating profit for the period spanning July through September. Total revenue climbed to 195.3 trillion won, or $146 billion. These figures represent the fourth consecutive quarter where both metrics set new company records.

The results arrived one day after rival SK Hynix also announced record earnings for the same period. Together, these two firms control approximately two-thirds of the global memory chip market. They currently face high demand from clients building out AI infrastructure.

Samsung stated that demand for its AI-related products will continue to outpace supply through 2027. The company plans to prioritize high-bandwidth memory chips, server DRAMs, and solid-state drives for AI servers.

South Korea is expanding its semiconductor manufacturing and data center capabilities to support this growth. In June, Samsung and SK Hynix pledged a combined 800 trillion won, or $599 billion, to build a new chipmaking hub in the country's southwest.

Despite the recent financial strength, some analysts remain cautious about the long-term return on these massive investments. The Bank of Korea warned that the nation's trade-dependent economy has become overly reliant on the chip sector. The central bank noted that such concentration could worsen the economic impact if a downturn occurs in AI-related industries.