SEOUL, Jan 20, 2026, 08:57 (KST) — Premarket
- SK Hynix closed at 764,000 won on Jan. 19, marking a 1.06% gain from the previous session, following a solid rally among Korean chipmakers.
- South Korea plans to push for better terms on U.S. tariffs targeting memory chip imports, reigniting policy uncertainty around SK Hynix and Samsung.
- SK Hynix will release its next earnings on Jan. 29, marking a key checkpoint for AI-driven memory demand and pricing.
SK Hynix (000660.KS) comes into Tuesday up 1.06% at 764,000 won from Jan. 19, holding close to recent peaks as the market weighs new trade updates and sector cues.
Trade policy is the immediate priority. South Korea has announced plans to negotiate with the United States should Washington impose tariffs on memory chip imports — a key segment for SK Hynix.
Korea’s rally hinges heavily on semiconductors right now. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix made up 64.3% of the Kospi’s total market cap gain over the past month, according to Heungkuk Securities. The benchmark closed at a record 4,904.66 points on Jan. 19. Analyst Lee Young-won cautioned that the market faces uncertainty, citing tariff threats and a more complicated semiconductor cycle.
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo noted that the initial U.S. restrictions focus on specific advanced chips from Nvidia and AMD. He pointed out, “Since the memory chips that South Korean companies mainly export are currently excluded, the immediate impact is expected to be limited.” Still, he cautioned, it’s “not yet time to be reassured,” as uncertainty remains over a potential second phase. Reuters
Investors are keeping an eye on supply developments beyond Korea. Micron revealed plans to acquire Powerchip’s P5 fab in Taiwan for $1.8 billion. TrendForce suggests this could lead to a higher global DRAM supply forecast for 2027. Micron ranks among the top three suppliers of high-bandwidth memory (HBM)—stacked DRAM crucial for AI accelerators—alongside Samsung and SK Hynix.
SK Hynix is ramping up to meet rising demand. Sungsoo Ryu, CEO of SK Hynix America, told Reuters earlier this month that customers want more multi-year supply deals. The company is accelerating its capacity build-out to “support memory consumption for AI infrastructure.” Reuters
That same trade and capex narrative swings both ways. Barron’s highlighted looming memory price spikes late in 2025 but warned that rapid industry expansion risks turning tight supply into oversupply. When that cycle flips, margins can dive quickly.
SK Hynix has its next big date set for Jan. 29, when quarterly results drop. Investors will zero in on how management views HBM supply and contract prices, plus any signs that tariff discussions are shifting customer actions.
