【AI+Chip】AI Drives Demand! SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won: Global Wafer Shortage May Persist Until 2030

SocialAnxietyStaker · 2026-03-17T05:46:58+00:00

South Korea's SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won stated at NVIDIA's GTC conference that chip shortages could persist until 2030 due to surging artificial intelligence demand. SK Hynix plans to introduce new measures to stabilize DRAM prices, but HBM production requires substantial wafer capacity, with capacity expansion taking 4 to 5 years. Chey Tae-won expressed caution regarding expansion in the United States, emphasizing the need to meet multiple conditions. He also mentioned plans to issue ADRs to broaden the global investor base and is actively seeking alternative energy solutions to reduce costs.

SocialAnxietyStaker

2026-03-17 05:46:58

Abstract generation in progress

During Nvidia GTC, Chey Tae-won, Chairman of South Korea’s SK Group, stated in an interview with the media that due to the continuous surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI), the global chip wafer shortage is expected to persist until 2030. He also offered reassurance, announcing that SK Hynix will soon unveil a new plan to “stabilize DRAM chip prices” to cope with market fluctuations.

HBM Production Consumes大量Wafers, Shortage Difficult to Resolve in the Short Term

Chey Tae-won explained that the AI industry has an enormous demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which requires a large number of wafers to produce. He further clarified that expanding production takes time; establishing new wafer capacity takes at least 4 to 5 years. The current shortage is expected to last until 2030, with wafer supply gaps possibly exceeding 20%.

SK Hynix’s Market Position

According to data from research firm Counterpoint, SK Hynix holds a significant position in key semiconductor sectors:

HBM Market: With a 57% market share, it ranks first globally and is a major supplier to Nvidia.
DRAM Market: With a 32% market share, it ranks second worldwide.

Challenges in Overseas Expansion

Regarding whether to expand chip manufacturing capacity in the United States, Chey Tae-won remains cautious. He emphasized that establishing overseas factories requires four key conditions: stable power supply, sufficient water resources, proper construction conditions, and professional engineering talent.

He pointed out that these conditions cannot be met overnight, so SK Hynix will continue to focus its production primarily in South Korea for now.

Issuance of ADRs to Broaden Investor Base

As for plans to issue American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in the U.S., he said this would help the company expand its global investor base, especially outside South Korea, and increase its worldwide influence.

He candidly mentioned that due to tense Middle Eastern geopolitics and rising energy prices, SK Group is actively exploring alternative energy solutions to reduce operational costs.

Southbound East Asia SK Hynix Daily Leverage (2X) Product (07709) opened 5.61% higher on Tuesday (17th), currently up 6.07%.

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