Memory Chip Makers' Profits Surpass US Tech Giants
Driven by the AI boom, the combined operating and net profits of the top five memory chip makers reached 32 trillion yen, surpassing the US Big Five tech companies for the first time. This historic milestone underscores how soaring demand for AI infrastructure and severe memory shortages have shifted immense financial power from software and internet giants to upstream hardware suppliers. The operating profit margin of these memory manufacturers surged from around 10% in early 2025 to nearly 70%, with companies like Kioxia and Samsung reporting massive surges in quarterly revenue and net income.
## BACKGROUND
Memory chips, such as DRAM and NAND flash, are essential semiconductor components used for data storage and temporary data processing in computers, servers, and AI data centers. The AI boom has triggered an unprecedented surge in demand for high-performance memory, leading to severe supply constraints and rapidly rising prices across the global semiconductor supply chain.