Samsung is gaining from the sharp rise in DRAM prices, according to the latest report for the second quarter of 2026. The memory market has helped the Korean tech giant widen its lead over SK Hynix. Samsung held 39% of global DRAM sales in Q2 2026. That was enough to keep the company in first place for the third quarter in a row.
SK Hynix ranked second with a 26% share of global DRAM sales. Micron followed closely behind with 25% of the market. CMXT held 7%, while smaller manufacturers accounted for the remaining share.
However, higher DRAM prices are not the only factor behind Samsung’s strong performance. Counterpoint analysts also pointed to the company’s growing presence in the HBM market.
Samsung has strengthened its position in the high-bandwidth memory segment. It managed to do so even as HBM prices declined during the quarter. The HBM market could soon see another shift. Market analysts expect prices to rebound in Q3 2026 and continue rising afterward.
That expected recovery could be linked to new AI hardware from Nvidia and AMD. Nvidia is expected to begin shipping its Vera Rubin GPUs, while AMD plans to launch its Instinct MI455X GPUs.
Both companies are expected to drive demand for advanced memory as the AI hardware market continues to expand. As a result, Samsung could have another strong quarter if DRAM and HBM demand continue to grow.
