Three companies control virtually all of the world’s DRAM memory chips. Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron collectively hold between 90% and 95% of global DRAM market share, a concentration that Counterpoint Research data shows will persist through at least 2027.
The numbers behind the oligopoly
As of Q1 2026, Samsung leads with 38% of the DRAM market, SK Hynix holds 29%, and Micron rounds out the trio at 22%. That leaves roughly a dime on the dollar for every other memory chipmaker on Earth combined.
In the HBM segment, SK Hynix dominates with approximately 58% market share. Micron sits at around 23%, and Samsung, despite leading overall DRAM, trails in HBM with roughly 21%.
Samsung’s most recent earnings report, dated April 30, 2026, flagged significant shortages in memory products. The company’s memory chief indicated these supply constraints are expected to continue through at least 2027. Customers are now reserving HBM supplies years in advance.
