Samsung foundry returns to profit in Q3 as 2nm and HBM orders surge - CHOSUNBIZ - Chosunbiz

Samsung Electronics' foundry division is expected to return to profitability in Q3 2026, driven by strong demand for its 2nm advanced process and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) products. This marks a sig... Read original →

Samsung Foundry’s Q3 2026 profitability stems not from cyclical demand but from synergistic breakthroughs in 2nm GAA and HBM4. Enhanced EUV utilization slashes upstream costs, while AI chip designers—facing TSMC’s saturated advanced nodes—are migrating, creating a self-reinforcing tech-capacity-ecosystem loop. U.S. CHIPS Act subsidies dilute fixed costs at its Taylor, Texas fab, yet tightening export controls risk inflating compliance burdens for Chinese AI clients. TSMC will likely accelerate A16/A14 nodes and bundle HBM3e to lock in customers. If Samsung sustains 2nm yield leadership and secures AMD’s MI400 series within 18 months, it could disrupt the duopoly; otherwise, this rebound remains tactical, not structural.