Global Sales of Memories

February 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
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Global Sales of Memories Will Be Higher This Year

Sales will continue to grow until next year
Increased production of DRAM for HBM and servers is drawing attention

An analysis suggests that the ‘semiconductor supercycle’ driven by artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally change the structure of the memory semiconductor market. Amid a memory shortage that is already happening in the market, the global memory market is expected to exceed USD 500 billion this year, more than doubling last year’s size.

According to Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce, global sales of memories will reach USD 551.6 billion (approximately KRW 795 trillion) this year, a 134% increase from last year. It also analyzed that sales in 2027 will peak at USD 842.7 billion (approximately KRW 1,215 trillion), a 53% increase from this year.
This growth is driven by the AI industry’s development direction because the need for high-bandwidth, large-capacity DRAMs for large-scale model parameter processing, inference, and multi-task parallel processing is growing as the data covered is exploding in quantity.
The fact that major suppliers such as Samsung Electronics, SK Nynix and Micron are adopting the ‘selection and concentration’ strategy is also affecting the market. As these companies focus on expanding their production of DRAMs for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and servers due to the increase in demand for HBMs, which are considered ‘a leader’ in the AI semiconductor field, market prices for general-purpose DRAMs supplied to sets such as smartphones or PCs are soaring due to lack of supply.
The automobile industry is also faced with hardship due to an increase in vehicle DRAM prices. In the automobile industry, older model DRAMs are primarily used since it takes more than two years to verify the reliability of parts.
However, there is a high possibility that the manufacturing of these products will decrease as memory suppliers rapidly change their lines to the latest process for AI, which are more profitable.


 
 
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AI Investment

February 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
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AI Investment Rush from the Beginning Of the Year

OpenAI signs a KRW 15 trillion AI chip contract.
‘Investment front’ expands across all areas.

Despite concerns over an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble, global big-tech companies and investors are heavily investing again in AI in the new year. Investment seems to be expanded across all areas including power infrastructure, data centers, robot and manufacturing automation, security and healthcare, beyond the competition in generative AI models.

According to the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI has agreed to purchase up to 750MW of computing capacity from AI semiconductor startup Cerebras Systems over the next three years. The contract is worth USD 10 billion (approximately KRW 14.7 trillion). OpenAI plans to use AI-specific chips designed by Cerebras to process responses by ChatGPT. Cerebras has been developing semiconductors specialized for inferring process generating answers to an actual user’s questions after a large-scale language model (LLM) has completed training.
Behind OpenAI’s large-scale contract is the current demand from 900 million users.
Its competitor Anthropic is also seeking to attract big investment. Anthropic is preparing to attract USD 10 billion worth of investments based on its enterprise value of USD 350 billion.
The scope of investment expands even further at the startup level. Skild AI, which develops general-purpose AI software for robots, recently closed a deal for USD 1.4 billion in Series C investment, making the enterprise value at USD 14 billion.
As a power shortage problem emerges, the nuclear fusion sector, which is considered an alternative to solve this problem, is also experiencing similar changes. Nuclear fusion startup Type One Energy recently raised USD 87 million and is accelerating its efforts to build a commercial fusion power plant by the mid-2030s.
There are also significant moves in funding. Andreessen Horowits, a leading Silicon Valley top venture capital firm, recently raised a new fund worth over USD 15 billion, the largest ever.


 
 
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Powerful AI Emerges on Smartphones

February 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
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Global competition in lightweight model Works without Internet or GPU

‘Small but powerful artificial intelligence (AI)’ that can be stored and used on smartphone or computers (PCs and laptops) without Wi-Fi or an internet connection is emerging. LG Electronics’ new laptop LG Gram, which was released this year, is also equipped with a lightweight model of the AI model, ‘EXAONE 3.5.’ Even a micro-sized model that can be stored on floppy disks, a storage medium used 30 years ago, has emerged overseas.

According to the information technology (IT) industry, LFM 2.5 1.2B, a model for edge introduced by a U.S. AI startup Liquid AI earlier this month, is drawing keen attention with more than 50,000 downloads within just ten days of its release on the open-source platform Hugging Face.
This model outperforms similar models from Alibaba and Meta, yet is micro-sized enough to store on a 750MB floppy disk.
The most significant feature of this micro-sized model is that it can run on local devices like smartphones or PCs used by ordinary users. Unlike the latest model of OpenAI and Google, which require a massive amount of GPU resources, this model is optimized to be run by a GPU or a neural processing unit (NPU) in the device.
The use of micro-sized models is also on the rise in Korea. LG Electronics has installed EXAONE 3.5, a model developed by LG’s AI Research Institute, in the 2026 LG Gram released earlier this year.
Based on EXAONE 3.5, LG gram offers features that can summarize using AI without network connection and search and answer by creating a database using data stored on a PC.
Kakao’s on-device AI feature, Kanana in KakaoTalk, which will be fully applied to KakaoTalk in the first quarter of this year, also utilizes a micro-sized model. Kanana in KakaoTalk is used to analyze a user’s conversation to suggest customized questions or to identify a user’s schedules and notify the user.


 
 
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Samsung

February 10, 2026 by Leave a Comment
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Samsung Counterattacks Apple-Google Collaboration

Samsung expands its browser service counteracting Apple’s introduction of Gemini AI

While Apple is planning to strengthen its voice AI assistant Siri by introducing Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) Gemini, Samsung Electronics’ countermeasure strategy is also drawing attention. Samsung Electronics is expanding its ecosystem by expanding its Internet browsers for PCs and enhancing the connectivity between Gemini and Samsung accounts.
Samsung Electronics is currently testing Samsung’s Internet browser for Windows, which it unveiled late last year, as a beta service. At this point, it is open only to U.S. and Korean customers, but the service will be expanded worldwide in the future.

A key feature of Samsung’s Internet browser is that users can access it by logging in through Samsung’s account. This enables users to automatically synchronize bookmarks, browsing history, and open tab information used on Galaxy smartphones with their PCs.
Samsung Electronics will expand its account ecosystem to include PC-based Internet browsers through this browser for Windows. As of the end of 2024, Samsung has 1.8 billion user account information.

Samsung Electronics has seized victory in AI phone competition with the world’s first AI phone it introduced in 2024, thanks to its early partnership with Google, which develops the best AI models. As Gemini is installed as a basic AI for Samsung Galaxy phones, it is used for various Galaxy AI functions.
Samsung’s strength in customer data is its data in the home appliance sector. Home appliances like TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines are connected to Samsung account-based ‘SmartThings.’ Neither Google nor Apple has the data from customers’ home appliances.
 
 
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LG’s Home Appliances

January 19, 2026 by Leave a Comment
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LG’s Home Appliances Solidifies its No. 1 Position in the U.S. Market

Capturing 22.9% market share

LG Electronics ranked No. 1 in market share in the U.S. home appliances market last year. Recognized for its superior product performance and durability for two consecutive years, LG Electronics overtook Samsung Electronics, which claimed the crown until 2023. It plans to continue to put its utmost efforts into defending its title as the ‘No. 1 home appliance company’ in the new year, based on its cutting-edge technology.

According to the U.S. market research firm Traqline, LG Electronics secured a 22.9% market share in the U.S. market in the third quarter of last year based on the sales of six major appliances, ranking it as the No. 1 home appliance company. These six major appliances include refrigerators, washers, dryers, freestanding ranges, dishwashers, and microwave ovens.

Based on sales in 2024, LG Electronics recorded a 21.1% market share, surpassing Samsung Electronics (20.9%), taking the top spot in the U.S. home appliance market in 2023. LG Electronics maintained its No. 1 ranking in the U.S. home appliance market, recording a 21.2% market share in the first quarter of last year, 21.5% in the second quarter, and 22.9% in the third quarter. During the same period, Samsung Electronics ranked second, followed by GE and Whirlpool in third and fourth place, respectively.

 
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Hanjin

January 19, 2026 by Leave a Comment
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Hanjin Opens a Logistics Hub in Amsterdam

Result achieved in just four years after reaching KRW 1 trillion
Annual sales expected to grow 43% this year
Production capacity to double within two years

Hanjin has established a logistics hub in the Netherlands to support the efforts of Korean brands, including K-beauty brands, to enter the European market.

Hanjin announced that it has recently opened its European fulfillment center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A fulfillment center is a centralized hub that handles the entire logistics process following online orders, from storage and packaging to delivery and returns. The center is conveniently located for air and marine transport connections, just 10 minutes by car from Schiphol Airport and an hour from the Port of Rotterdam.

Through this hub, Hanjin plans to provide integrated logistics services to K-brands preparing to enter the European market. Hanjin not only offers them packaging and labeling services tailored to the warehousing standards of global platforms like TikTok and Amazon, but also connects everything from B2C logistics, including own shopping mall’s order management, to last-mile delivery across Europe.
Hanjin will also handle complex issues related to customs clearance and value-added tax, which are major obstacles to entering the European market.


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K-Chemicals

January 19, 2026 by Leave a Comment
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K-Chemicals Compete on High Value-Added Systems

The Korean government has presented a roadmap to elevate the petrochemical industry to a global top-four position through high value-added. Currently, Korea ranks fifth in the high value-added chemicals industry, following China, the USA, Japan, and Germany. The government aims to surpass Germany and rise to fourth position.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the 2030 K-Chemical Next-Generation Technology Innovation Roadmap, which aims to achieve high value-added, eco-friendly, and strengthened compliance with global environmental regulations. This Roadmap outlines the following key objectives:
First, the government plans to increase the high value-added ratio of core materials in seven key industrial sectors. The plan is to increase the proportion from 30% this year to 40% by 2030 and 45% by 2035. As a priority, it will advance synthesis and processing technologies. To comply with global chemical regulations, it will also expedite the development of alternatives. The number of alternatives, currently developed at 12 this year, is expected to increase to 100 by 2030 and 150 by 2035.
Secondly, it will invest in eco-friendly transitions to reduce carbon emissions. The petrochemicals industry is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 270,000 tons this year through eco-friendly transitions. It plans to increase reduction of carbon emissions to 1,030,000 tons by 2030. To achieve this, investments will be made in technologies to convert biomass-based raw materials and recycle or reuse waste plastics.
The way in which it plans to achieve this goal is through the ‘chemical industry innovation alliance,’ formed by ‘anchor companies (leading companies)’ and major chemical companies. The alliance will be organized into nine sectors, namely: semiconductors; displays; future vehicles; secondary batteries; aerospace and defense; electronics and communications; advanced platform polymers; eco-friendliness, and regulatory response.

  
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Samsung Electronics

January 19, 2026 by Leave a Comment
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Samsung Electronics Expands its Automotive Electronics Business

Acquires ZF in Germany, a key autonomous driving company through its subsidiary Harman

Samsung Electronics has acquired ZF’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) business for 1.5 billion euros through its subsidiary, Harman.
ZF, founded in Germany in 1915, is a global total electronics company boasting over 100 years of history and technological prowess. It has wide business areas from ADAS, to transmissions, chassis, and even electric vehicle operating components. ZF’s ADAS business, which Harman is acquiring, is ranked No. 1 for its ADAS smart cameras. It already supplies products to numerous automakers through collaborations with various semiconductor companies, including Mobileye. This is expected to contribute to Harman’s future expansion of its sales network.

Automotive semiconductors (processors) are currently transitioning from a distributed structure to a domain-centric structure and even a centralized control structure.
According to industry sources, the ADAS and centralized controller market is projected to grow rapidly from US$ 42.2 billion in 2025 to US$ 65.7 billion in 2030 and more than US$ 127.6 billion in 2035.

Harman already has a strong portfolio of automotive electronics focused on the in-cabin experience (ICX), including in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), digital cockpits, car audio, and telematics. Harman is expanding into future growth areas by introducing new products focused on enhancing ICX.

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Korean Companies’ TVs

December 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
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Korean Companies’ TVs Retained Their Global Leading Position

Samsung maintains its top spot in the global TV market in the third quarter.
LG holds 50% of the OLED TV market.

Samsung Electronics maintained its top spot in the global TV market in the third quarter of this year. LG Electronics also maintained its top spot in the premium OLED TV market. However, Chinese TV manufacturers, driven by price competitiveness, are rapidly catching up and this raises concerns among Korean companies.

According to market research firm Omdia, Samsung Electronics maintained its top spot in the TV market in the third quarter of this year, in both sales and shipments. Its sales share rose to 29%, up from 28.6% in the same period last year. Although LG Electronics’ sales share declined from 16.5% to 15.2%, it still maintained its second place. TCL ranked third (13.0%), and Hisense fourth (10.9%).
This is because Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics maintain high market share in the premium TV market.
Samsung Electronics recorded a 53.1% market share in the market for premium TVs priced at US$ 2,500 or more. It also maintained its top spot in the market for ultra-large TVs, 75 inches and larger, with a 29.1% share. LG Electronics maintained its top spot in the relatively lucrative OLED TV market, both in shipments (49.7%) and sales (45.4%). Samsung’s OLED TVs recorded a 34.9 market share. If the current sales trends of both companies continue, Samsung Electronics will hold the top rank in the global TV market for over 20 years this year, while LG Electronics will hold the top rank in the OLED TV market for 13 consecutive years.
However, based on shipments in the third quarter of this year, Chinese companies have already caught up with Korean companies. The combined market share of Chinese companies in shipments is 31.8%, surpassing the Korean companies’ share of 28.5%.
Chinese companies’ rapid rise in market share is largely because the overall TV market has shrunk. This is because lower-priced products are selling better under the circumstances with decreasing demand. According to market research firm TrendForce, global TV shipments in the third quarter of this year totaled 49.75 million units, a 4.9% decrease compared to the last year. This is the first time that shipments in the third quarter have fallen below 50 million units.

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Accelerating the Transition from EV Batteries to ESS

December 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
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Accelerating the Transition of North American Factories from EV Batteries to ESS

Planning to mass-manufacture LFP batteries within the year at LG Ensol’s
Canadian joint plant

Samsung SDI’s U.S. plant also produces ESS.

Battery companies chose the energy storage system (ESS) business as a breakthrough in the declining electric vehicle (EV) market and to capture the market. They are accelerating a two-track strategy that focuses on technological advancement and production efficiency.
LG Chem recently announced that it has signed a joint development agreement with Sinopec, China’s largest integrated energy and chemical company, to develop core materials for sodium-ion batteries. Through this agreement, the two parties plan to jointly research and develop core materials, including cathode and anode for sodium-ion batteries, and secure cost competitiveness.
Sodium-ion batteries are a type of secondary battery utilizing sodium to replace lithium, the main material in existing secondary batteries. Compared to lithium-ion batteries, which have been a mainstay item of Korea’s battery industry, the advantages of sodium-ion batteries include lower prices and easier resource procurement.
Accordingly, the two companies plan to expand their business model by applying the materials they jointly developed to batteries for global ESS and mass-market electric vehicles (EVs).
LG Energy Solution, which has recently been strengthening its attack on the North American ESS market, is relocating its production lines to streamline local ESS production and procurement. This is a conceived plan to increase production of ESS batteries following a sharp decline in North American EV demand due to the U.S. government’s decision to end subsidies of approximately US$ 7,500 per vehicle last September.
According to the battery industry, NextStar, a joint venture in Canada between LG Energy Solution and Stellantis, is converting some of its ternary lithium-ion battery production lines for EVs to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for ESS. It plans to begin mass-production of LFP batteries for ESS within the year with the expedited conversion. This will allow NextStar to flexibly respond to market demand fluctuations by establishing ‘a two-line system’ that produces batteries for both electric vehicles and ESS.
LG Energy Solution already converted its plant in Holland, Michigan, into a dedicated LFP-based ESS production base earlier this year, and with this conversion to Canada, it will complete its two major ESS hubs in North America.
Samsung SDI and SK On are also preparing to diversify their income sources by converting existing EV battery production lines to ESS. Samsung SDI converted the EV production line at Star Plus Energy, a joint venture in North America with Stellantis located in Indiana, USA, to ESS, and began mass-production in October.
SK On produces ESS batteries at its SK Battery America (SKBA) plant in Georgia, USA. It plans to supply ESS ordered from Flatiron Energy Development in the USA using its existing production facilities in the United States.


 
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