Seoul, Jan 19, 2026, 00:21 (KST) — Market closed.
- Samsung Electronics ended Friday at 148,900 won, gaining 3.47%
- Seoul indicated it will push for favorable terms should U.S. tariffs expand to include memory chips
- Investors are focused on the extent of tariffs and Samsung’s earnings update set for Jan. 29
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. shares ended Friday, Jan. 16, up 3.47%, closing at 148,900 won. That puts the stock near the top of its recent trading range as it heads into the new week. So far this year, the shares have gained around 24%. 1
The next trigger is political rather than product-related. South Korea plans to push for favorable terms on U.S. tariffs targeting imported memory chips. This follows Washington’s recent focus on advanced AI processors, thrusting South Korean chip exporters back into the limelight. 2
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said the 25% U.S. tariff announced so far should have limited immediate impact on South Korean firms, since memory chips remain excluded. But he cautioned it’s “not yet time to be reassured,” pointing to uncertainty about a potential next phase. The tariff targets specific AI chips, including products from Nvidia and AMD, Reuters reported. 3
On Friday, Samsung’s shares fluctuated from 144,300 won up to 149,500 won. Roughly 30.0 million shares were traded during the session, per its daily trading record. 4
Equity investors face a straightforward concern: tariffs act as import taxes, and targeting memory would strike a key segment where Korea holds sway. Even if memory itself escapes direct tariffs, wider restrictions could still disrupt orders for servers and devices relying on Samsung chips.
Samsung is benefiting from a robust memory cycle. On Jan. 8, it projected fourth-quarter 2025 sales between 92 trillion and 94 trillion won, with operating profit estimated at 19.9 trillion to 20.1 trillion won, according to Korean accounting standards. 5
At the high end, competition remains fierce. Last week, SK Hynix announced plans to pour 19 trillion won into a cutting-edge chip packaging facility. The company framed this move as a direct response to growing demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — stacked DRAM crucial for AI processors, enabling faster data transfer while cutting power use. 6
Analysts highlight pricing power in conventional DRAM. “Samsung … stands to gain relatively more,” TrendForce analyst Avril Wu noted earlier this month amid rising DRAM prices. 7
But the tariff story isn’t one-sided. Should Washington extend the measures to memory chips, the impact could hit volumes, prices, or potentially both—depending on whether U.S. buyers swallow the higher costs or turn elsewhere for supply. A prolonged policy battle also threatens to unsettle confidence right as the sector counts on AI-driven demand.
Samsung will hold its Q4 2025 earnings call at 10 a.m. KST on Jan. 29. Investors expect a detailed divisional breakdown and insights on how management intends to navigate trade risks. 8
