Shares Surge in AI Boom
Shares of South Korean semiconductor-related companies surged on Monday, aligning with the upward trend seen in their Japanese counterparts. Memory-chip maker SK Hynix and chip-packaging equipment supplier Hanmi Semiconductor saw substantial increases, with SK Hynix rising up to 7.6% to 168,100 won and Hanmi Semiconductor climbing 20% to 101,500 won. This outperformance came as the stock benchmark Kospi registered a more modest gain of 1.3% in late trading.
AI Collaboration Driving Growth
SK Hynix and Hanmi Semiconductor are now in the spotlight among investors due to their collaborative efforts in packaging high bandwidth memory chips for AI applications. According to KB Securities analyst Juyoung Park, the increasing demand for HBM chips has been a significant driver of the ongoing recovery in the global chip industry.
Advancements in HBM Chip Production
Leading global chip manufacturers like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology are actively preparing for mass production of HBM3E chips, the latest and most advanced model available. This development is fueling further interest in companies poised to benefit from the expanding AI market. Hanmi Semiconductor’s provision of thermal-compression bonders to SK Hynix, along with SK Hynix’s supply of advanced HBM products to U.S. chip giant Nvidia, exemplifies the collaborative efforts driving growth in the semiconductor industry.
The surge in South Korean semiconductor stocks reflects a broader trend within the global chip landscape, with companies strategically positioning themselves to capitalize on the growing demand for advanced semiconductor solutions.