Finance
Samsung Elec and Amd Sign MoU on AI Memory, Explore Foundry Partnership
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
Quick Summary
Samsung and AMD inked an MoU to expand their AI-focused memory partnership, securing Samsung’s HBM4 for AMD Instinct accelerators and DDR5 for upcoming EPYC CPUs, while exploring Samsung’s foundry services for next-gen chips.
Samsung and AMD Expand Strategic Partnership on AI Memory and Foundry Services
Overview of the Samsung and AMD Strategic Partnership
Memorandum of Understanding and Focus Areas
SEOUL, March 18 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) signed a memorandum of understanding to expand their strategic partnership on memory chip supplies for artificial intelligence infrastructure, the companies said on Wednesday.
Next-Generation Memory Solutions
The agreement will focus on supplying Samsung's next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) for AMD's upcoming Instinct MI455X AI accelerators, as well as optimised DDR5 memory for AMD's sixth-generation EPYC processors, they said in a statement.
Potential Foundry Partnership
The companies will also discuss opportunities for a foundry partnership, under which Samsung could provide contract chip manufacturing services for next-generation AMD products.
Samsung's Role as a Key Supplier
HBM4 Supply for AMD AI GPUs
Under the agreement, Samsung will position itself as a key HBM4 supplier for AMD's next-generation AI GPUs. The South Korean firm has already been a primary HBM supplier for AMD, supplying HBM3E chips used in AMD's MI350X and MI355X accelerators.
Industry Context and Competitive Landscape
The agreement comes during the week of Nvidia's annual developer conference GTC, where CEO Jensen Huang on Monday announced a foundry partnership with the Korean firm and praised its HBM4 chips.
The tie-up highlights a broader race among global chipmakers to lock in long-term supply partnerships for advanced memory, as AI-driven demand reshapes the semiconductor industry and tightens supply of HBM chips.
Recent Deals and Market Position
Major AI Chip Supply Agreements
Last month, AMD said it had agreed to sell up to $60 billion worth of AI chips to Meta Platforms over five years, a deal that allows the Facebook owner to purchase as much as 10% of the chips. AMD signed a similar deal with OpenAI last year.
Samsung's Market Share and Ambitions
Samsung, the world's largest memory chipmaker, has been seeking to narrow the gap with rivals in the fast-growing HBM segment. It holds about a 22% share of the global HBM market, compared with market leader SK Hynix's 57%, according to Counterpoint.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Heekyong YangEditing by Ed Davies)
Key Takeaways
- •Samsung to supply HBM4 memory for AMD’s Instinct MI455X accelerators and optimized DDR5 for 6th‑gen EPYC CPUs, reinforcing memory supply ties.
- •Samsung and AMD will explore a foundry partnership, potentially adding contract chipmaking to their collaboration.
- •Samsung is ramping up in the HBM market: HBM4 mass shipments are underway, priced around $700, contributing to its recovery in market share amid fierce competition from SK Hynix and Micron.
Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung Elec and AMD sign MoU on AI memory, explore foundry partnership
1What is the focus of the new Samsung and AMD partnership?
The partnership focuses on supplying Samsung’s HBM4 and DDR5 memory for AMD’s next-generation AI accelerators and processors.
2What products will Samsung supply to AMD under the MoU?
Samsung will supply next-gen HBM4 memory for Instinct MI455X AI accelerators and optimized DDR5 memory for sixth-generation EPYC processors.
3Are Samsung and AMD exploring additional collaborations beyond memory supply?
Yes, they are discussing a potential foundry partnership, where Samsung could manufacture AMD's future chips.
4How does this agreement impact the global semiconductor market?
It strengthens long-term supply partnerships for advanced memory as AI-driven demand reshapes the industry and tightens HBM chip supply.
5What is Samsung's current position in the global HBM market?
Samsung holds about 22% of the global HBM market, while SK Hynix leads with 57%.
