Seoul – Samsung Electronics delivered the strongest quarterly performance in its history on Thursday, driven by a sharp rise in global demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence (AI).

The worldwide push to build AI data centers and develop advanced AI technologies has significantly boosted demand for high-bandwidth memory chips. At the same time, prices of conventional chips used in consumer electronics have come under pressure, raising concerns that smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices could become more expensive.

For the quarter ended December 2025, Samsung reported record quarterly consolidated revenue of KRW 93.8 trillion (around $65.5 billion), marking a 9% increase from the previous quarter. According to the company, operating profit also climbed to an all-time high of KRW 20.1 trillion.

The strong results come as rival chipmaker SK hynix also reported that its operating profit doubled in 2025 to a record level, supported by robust AI-related demand.

South Korea aims to become one of the world’s top three AI powers, alongside the United States and China, with Samsung and SK hynix playing key roles as major producers of high-performance memory chips.

Samsung said it expects AI- and server-related demand to continue growing, creating new opportunities for long-term, sustainable growth. For the full year, the company posted revenue of KRW 333.6 trillion and operating profit of KRW 43.6 trillion, while sales in its semiconductor division rose 33% quarter over quarter.

The company also highlighted its $33.2 billion investment in chip manufacturing facilities, reaffirming its commitment to upgrading existing production lines and adopting advanced manufacturing technologies to meet rising global demand.