The Korean chipmaker also turned a profit in the April-June period, with an operating profit of 5.47 trillion won and a net profit of 4.12 trillion won. This marked the company's return to the 5 trillion won operating profit level for the first time since the semiconductor boom of 2018.
The strong performance is attributable to robust demand for AI memory products, particularly high bandwidth memory (HBM) and enterprise solid-state drives (eSSD). HBM sales increased over 250 percent year-on-year and 80 percent from the previous quarter, while eSSD revenue grew about 50 percent compared to the previous quarter.
The company also benefited from overall price increases in DRAM and NAND products. SK hynix's NAND business recorded its second consecutive quarter of profitability, with improved average selling prices across product lines.
The company plans to expand its high-capacity eSSD offerings, aiming for a fourfold increase in eSSD sales compared to the previous year.
To meet growing AI memory demand, SK hynix is constructing new facilities, including the M15X fab in Cheongju, set to begin production in late 2025, and the first fab at the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster, scheduled for completion in May 2027.
CFO Kim Woo-hyun emphasized the company's focus on profitability-driven investments, noting a 4.3 trillion won reduction in borrowings compared to the previous quarter.
“We will further solidify our position as a leader in AI memory solutions by focusing on developing cutting-edge process technology and high-performance products based on a stable financial structure,” he said.
The company expects continued growth in AI server memory demand and increased sales of high-performance memory for new PCs and mobile devices supporting on-device AI in the second half of the year.