Samsung anticipates that the worldwide semiconductor shortage will persist until 2028, a scenario directly linked to the growing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. The South Korean manufacturer has signed long-term agreements with data center companies to secure supply in an increasingly competitive market.
According to Reuters, Samsung expects the chip shortage to intensify in the coming years. The company has already established contracts with the five largest global data center corporations and is negotiating with other major industry entities. These contracts have a minimum duration of five years and include advance payment and minimum price clauses, aiming to mitigate the risks inherent in large-scale investments.
Jaejune Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung's memory division, stated during a conference call with analysts that 'almost all customers are requesting multi-year supply contracts.' The company's strategy aims to cover approximately two-thirds of its memory production in the long term, seeking to alleviate the effects of the boom and bust cycles characteristic of the semiconductor market.
Several factors fuel this demand, including the development of artificial intelligence systems, the expansion of data centers, international competition among chip manufacturers, and the continuous need for new investments in manufacturing facilities.
Samsung's semiconductor division reported an operating profit of 89.2 trillion won in the second quarter, equivalent to about R$ 312.9 billion. This performance represents an increase of over 250 times compared to the same period last year. The group's total revenue reached 171.5 trillion won (R$ 601.2 billion), marking a 130% growth.
Despite these robust figures, investors expressed apprehension regarding the high costs incurred by technology companies to expand AI infrastructure. The chip market showed signs of weakening, with investors questioning the sustainability of record margins. Concurrently, Samsung's mobile division recorded a loss of 700 billion won (R$ 2.46 billion) in the quarter, pressured by rising component costs.
The manufacturer seeks to increase its share in the High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) segment, which is essential for artificial intelligence processors. The company supplies these components to clients such as Nvidia and AMD and projects that revenue from HBM4 will triple in the third quarter.
Additionally, Samsung announced that its contract chip fabrication unit should experience a recovery soon, driven by increased factory utilization and improved prices. The company maintains its plan to start operations at the Taylor, Texas plant this year and plans a second unit that could enter mass production in 2030.
The battle for semiconductors has solidified as a primary reflection of the expansion of artificial intelligence. For Samsung, securing long-term contracts constitutes a tactic to capitalize on current demand and minimize the effects of market fluctuations.
