SK Hynix doubles AI memory capacity

SK Hynix, a leading memory chip producer, plans to double its memory chip capacity over the next five years to address a global shortage of essential components for artificial intelligence. Chairman Chey Tae-won stated that the deficit of storage chips could persist until 2030. The company is significantly increasing its capital expenditure, with 2026 spending expected to rise substantially from 30.2 trillion won in 2025. This expansion is a direct response to the exponential demand for memory chips driven by the global data center build-out and AI services, which has already propelled SK Hynix's and Micron Technology's market valuations past $1 trillion. The move is expected to alleviate bottlenecks in AI development and provide SK Hynix with unusual pricing power. SK Hynix also plans to list American depository receipts this year, offering US_investors another way to engage with the AI memory market.