AI demand explodes, South Korean companies' North American sales increase by 14%, SK Hynix's sales in the U.S. surge by 65%

On February 10, according to South Korean technology media ETNews, major South Korean companies saw their sales in the North American market increase by over 14% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025, with storage chip giant SK Hynix showing the most remarkable performance, as revenue in the U.S. market surged by more than 65%.

According to ETNews citing data from corporate analysis firm Leaders Index, the sales growth of major South Korean companies in North America is primarily driven by the IT, electronics, and pharmaceutical/biotechnology sectors, while sectors such as secondary batteries have seen a decline. Among the top 500 South Korean companies by revenue, 67 publicly disclosed companies and their 194 subsidiaries achieved a cumulative sales figure of 343.8 trillion won in North America in the third quarter of last year, marking a year-on-year increase of 14.1%.

The IT and electronics sectors have become the main engines of sales growth for South Korean companies in North America, with sales reaching 157.9 trillion won, a year-on-year increase of 20.7%. This growth momentum is mainly attributed to the surge in demand for storage chips driven by the investment boom in AI infrastructure since the second half of 2025. Both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are accelerating supply to meet the growing demand driven by AI.

SK Hynix performed outstandingly in this sector, with its revenue in the North American market soaring by 65.5% to 45.2 trillion won, making this region account for over 70% of its total sales. Another South Korean storage chip giant, Samsung Electronics, also recorded growth, with North American sales climbing 10.2% year-on-year to 93.3 trillion won.

SK Hynix Bets on the U.S. AI Market

At the end of January, SK Hynix announced plans to establish an artificial intelligence solutions company tentatively named "AI Company" in the United States. The company plans to provide system-level optimization services for AI data center customers using advanced chip technologies, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM).

According to The Korea Times, SK Hynix has allocated $10 billion to support this initiative. The company may also plan to transform its U.S. subsidiary Solidigm, which focuses on NAND flash memory, into an AI company while spinning off a new subsidiary from Solidigm to maintain its existing business.

Reports citing industry analysts indicate that SK Hynix's layout primarily focuses on two strategic goals: first, to establish an investment and R&D hub in the core market of the AI industry in the U.S., and second, to further integrate and activate Solidigm's existing technological capabilities to explore new growth paths.

Samsung's Texas Factory Accelerates Progress

Samsung Electronics' wafer fabrication plant project in Tyler, Texas, has made substantial progress. According to The Korea JoongAng Daily, the project has obtained temporary operating permits for some of the construction areas, creating conditions for accelerating its engineering.

Reports citing informed sources state that Samsung plans to begin testing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment as early as March this year, aiming for mass production of 2-nanometer processes in the second half of 2026. Once the factory ramps up its capacity, it is expected to produce AI5 chips for Tesla under a long-term contract extending to 2033, and subsequently supply its next-generation AI6 chips