In brief
Samsung Electronics posted a record operating profit of 107.4 trillion won (about $80.4 billion) and revenue of 195.3 trillion won in the third quarter, fueled by a surge in sensitivity for memory chips used in artificial‑intelligence infrastructure. Its semiconductor unit alone generated an operating profit of 106.5 trillion won and revenue of 147.1 trillion won, up sharply from the same period a year earlier. Analysts note a 783% year‑over‑year jump in operating profit and a 127% rise in revenue, while forecasting a further contraction of supply-side constraints on AI chip demand.
On Friday, Samsung Electronics announced record operating profit and revenue for the July‑September quarter, citing a surge in demand for memory chips that power artificial‑intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
Samsung’s operating profit jumped 783.1 percent from the same period a year earlier to reach an all‑time high of 107.4 trillion won (about $80.4 billion). The company exceeded market expectations of 105.7 trillion won. Net income climbed 514.6 percent to 75.14 trillion won.
Revenue surged 126.9 percent to 195.3 trillion won, again smashing previous records for four consecutive quarters. The semiconductor division alone produced an operating profit of 106.5 trillion won against revenue of 147.1 trillion won, marking the strongest semiconductor performance to date.
“The explosion in demand for memory chips used in AI infrastructure drove this performance,” the company said. “We managed our product mix with a focus on AI products while scaling up sales of high‑bandwidth memory 4 (HBM 4), which we expect to see even more demand for as AI investment ramps up this fourth quarter.”
Samsung forecasts that AI‑infrastructure capital expenditure will reach a historic level in 2027, predicting that AI‑driven demand will far exceed industry supply compared to 2026. The company also noted that competition for AI leadership could boost investments in the sector.
Analysts emphasize that the rapid rise in operating profit and revenue is tied closely to the company’s high‑bandwidth memory products, which are in heavy demand for machine‑learning models. Samsung’s earnings were overwhelmingly driven by this semiconductor boom, with the company’s share of the global AI chip market growing in the same period.
【Uncertainties】The record gains rest on an unprecedented surge in AI‑chip demand, but it remains unclear whether the trend will continue and how potential supply shortages or intensified competition might influence future growth. The resilience of the semiconductor market and the pace of AI infrastructure investment are also factors that could shape the company’s trajectory in the next quarters.
