The memory chip supply crisis currently hitting the global tech sector is not expected to end anytime soon. SK Hynix Inc. CEO Kwak Noh-Jung revealed that availability challenges for components vital to electronic devices—ranging from computers to automotive—could potentially persist beyond 2030.
Kwak stated that customers are now starting to take anticipatory steps by locking in long-term contracts. This strategic decision reflects the industry's belief that the chip shortage will not subside quickly, but rather become a structural challenge to be faced over the next decade.
This surge in demand is triggered by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which requires support from high-capacity memory. Giants such as SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, and Micron Technology are working to meet the high demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to support expanding data center infrastructure.
These competitive market conditions are placing heavy pressure on global supply chains. Manufacturers' focus on prioritizing chips for AI needs has led to increasingly limited production capacity for conventional devices, such as smartphones and motor vehicles, triggering a prolonged supply imbalance.
