[News] Samsung, SK hynix 1H26 Chip Facility Investment Up 35%; NVIDIA Not Among Samsung’s Top Five Customers
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix increased semiconductor facility investment in 1H26 as AI demand drives capacity and advanced-process upgrades. Etoday, citing 2026 semi-annual reports, said combined spending rose 35.1% YoY to KRW 43.198 trillion. Samsung invested KRW 25.603 trillion in DS (+23.5%), SK hynix KRW 17.595 trillion (+56.4%). Both reported 100% utilization. Customer mix shifted, with SK hynix’s NVIDIA share down to 13.35% of revenue.
How this was made
![[News] Samsung, SK hynix 1H26 Chip Facility Investment Up 35%; NVIDIA Not Among Samsung’s Top Five Customers — source image](/_next/image?url=%2Fdata%2Fnews-image%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fimg.trendforce.com%252Fblog%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2026%252F01%252F29110920%252FSK-hynix-Icheon-Campus-from-SK-hynix-newsroom-20260129-624x368.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
The 30-second read
Why it matters
Samsung and SK hynix are increasing semiconductor facility investment and R&D, with both reporting 100% utilization on key memory lines. It also highlights shifting customer concentration, particularly NVIDIA’s reduced revenue share at SK hynix and NVIDIA’s absence from Samsung’s top customer list in 1H26, while suggesting potential rebound tied to HBM4 and NVIDIA’s platform launch.
Market read
For traders, the actionable signal is the combination of higher capex and full utilization, which supports AI-memory demand expectations, alongside customer-mix changes that could affect near-term revenue attribution and sentiment into 2H26.
What to watch
The article cites utilization and capex but does not quantify pricing, gross margin, or actual HBM4 shipment volumes; those could diverge from investment plans and drive earnings outcomes.
Background
The piece summarizes 2026 semi-annual reports for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, focusing on 1H26 capex, R&D, utilization, and customer mix amid AI-driven memory demand.
Ticker impact
Samsung Electronics says 1H26 semiconductor facility investment rose 35.1% YoY to KRW 25.603T, with DS spending up 23.5% and 100% memory-line utilization.
Mildly positive bias for near-term trading as capex and utilization confirm AI-memory demand, with upside tempered by NVIDIA absence from Samsung’s top customer list.
The article provides concrete 1H26 capex and utilization figures for Samsung’s DS division, which typically supports earnings visibility. However, it also notes NVIDIA was absent from Samsung’s major customer list in 1H26, implying revenue concentration may be shifting.
SK hynix reports 1H26 semiconductor facility investment of KRW 17.595T, up 56.4% YoY, tied to AI memory demand for HBM and high-capacity DRAM.
Moderately positive bias, with potential volatility around whether HBM4 ramp offsets the lower NVIDIA revenue share in 2H26.
The text includes specific capex growth and links it to HBM/DRAM demand, a direct fundamental driver. It also states NVIDIA’s revenue share fell to 13.35% in 1H26, which can pressure sentiment until HBM4 supply ramps.
Market effects
Signals sustained AI-memory capex and advanced-process transitions, reinforcing bullish expectations for HBM and high-capacity DRAM supply-demand balance.
Supports Korea semiconductor complex sentiment as both Samsung and SK hynix report full utilization and higher investment intensity.
Impacts global AI hardware supply chain expectations, especially around HBM availability for next-gen GPU platforms and server memory demand.
Counterpoint
Customer-mix shifts (NVIDIA share down at SK hynix, NVIDIA absent from Samsung’s top customers) could mean capex is ahead of monetization, raising margin and inventory risk if AI chip demand normalizes.
Key entities
- companySamsung Electronics
1H26 DS facility investment KRW 25.603T (+23.5% YoY) and 100% utilization; major customers listed include Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and others, with NVIDIA absent.
- companySK hynix
1H26 facility investment KRW 17.595T (+56.4% YoY) and 100% utilization; NVIDIA revenue share 13.35% of total revenue in 1H26, down from 24% in 2025.
- companyNVIDIA
Named as a key customer for SK hynix in 1H26, with a declining revenue share; also referenced as a potential driver of HBM4-related rebound in 2H26.
