SK하이닉스가 지난 26일 실적발표회를 열고, 올해 3분기 영업이익과 순이익이 마이너스를 기록했다고 발표했다. 이익 면에서 적자가 지속되며 반도체 경기 한파가 여전한 가운데 D램 실적이 AI 수요에 힘입어 상승하고 있는 것으로 전해졌다.

▲SK Hynix 2023 Q3 business performance comparison table with the previous quarter and previous year (Source: SK Hynix)
Operating loss of 1.8 trillion won, net loss of 2 trillion won↑
DRAM Turns Black for the First Time in 2 Quarters, Thanks to AI Demand
"SK Hynix, a key company in future AI infrastructure"
SK Hynix held a performance announcement conference on the 26th and announced that its operating profit and net profit for the third quarter of this year were negative. It was reported that DRAM performance is rising thanks to AI demand, while the deficit continues in terms of profit and the semiconductor industry is still in a slump.
SK Hynix announced on the 26th that it recorded the following business performance in the third quarter of 2023: sales of KRW 9.662 trillion, operating loss of KRW 1.792 trillion (operating loss rate of 20%), and net loss of KRW 2.1847 trillion (net loss rate of 24%).
However, according to SK Hynix, “As market demand increases, especially for high-performance memory products, the company’s operating performance has been continuously improving since the bottom of the first quarter,” and “In particular, sales of flagship products such as HBM3, a representative AI memory, high-capacity DDR5, and high-performance mobile DRAM were brisk, resulting in a 24% increase in sales and a 38% decrease in operating loss compared to the previous quarter.”
SK Hynix emphasized, “It is significant that DRAM, which had been in the red in the first quarter of this year, has turned to a profit in just two quarters.” Regarding the sales increase trend, SK Hynix analyzed that not only did the sales volume of both DRAM and NAND increase, but also the increase in the DRAM average selling price (ASP) had a major impact.
By product, DRAM shipments increased by about 20% compared to the second quarter, driven by brisk sales of high-performance server products such as AI, and ASP also rose by about 10%. NAND shipments also increased, centered on high-capacity mobile products and SSDs (Solid State Drives).
DRAM, which has returned to the black, is expected to continue to see market improvement along with the generative AI boom. As the NAND market, which has been in deficit, is gradually showing signs of improvement, SK Hynix is taking every measure to continue the trend of improving the company's business performance.
In fact, as the effects of memory supplier cuts in the second half of this year become visible, demand for memory purchases is being created among customers with reduced inventory, and product prices are reportedly entering a stable phase.
Accordingly, the company has decided to increase investment in high value-added flagship products such as HBM, DDR5, and LPDDR5. The company plans to convert its process to focus on 10nm 4th generation (1a) and 5th generation (1b) DRAM, while expanding investment in HBM and TSV.
SK hynix Vice President (CFO) Woo-Hyun Kim said, “While leading the high-performance memory market, we are firmly positioning ourselves as a company that will become the core of future AI infrastructure.” He added, “Going forward, we will create new markets different from the past through our global leading products, such as HBM and DDR5, and continue to strengthen our position as the No. 1 supplier of high-performance premium memory.”