随着人工智能基础设施建设持续升温，高带宽内存（HBM）已成为全球半导体产业最紧缺的关键组件之一。最新报道称，三星电子正在利用其HBM供应链优势，向部分数据中心客户收取最高可达25%的额外溢价，以换取长期且稳定的供货保障。
消息显示，生成式人工智能和大型数据中心建设热潮推动全球科技企业争相锁定未来数年的HBM产能。由于HBM是训练和运行先进人工智能模型不可或缺的核心组件，包括英伟达、Google、微软等大型科技企业都希望提前获得足够供应，以确保未来产品和数据中心部署计划不受影响。
在这种背景下，三星已经与多个重要客户签署长期供货协议。据报道，公司约80%的未来内存产能已通过长期合同提前锁定。对于这些客户而言，相比单纯追求更低价格，更重要的是确保未来几年能够持续获得稳定供货。
业内估计，部分客户为了获得优先供应资格，愿意接受比普通价格高出约25%的采购成本。这种溢价本质上并非购买额外性能，而是在全球产能紧张情况下为供应安全付费。随着HBM逐渐成为人工智能产业链最重要的战略资源之一，供应保障本身正在成为具有巨大价值的商品。
与此同时，长期供货协议的普及也正在改变整个存储器产业的商业模式。除了价格溢价之外，新合同往往还包含预付款以及最低采购量承诺等条款，使制造商能够更准确规划未来数年的产能扩张和资本投入。
三星高层此前已表示，几乎所有主要客户都在寻求签订长期供应协议，而市场需求增长速度已经超过现有产能扩张速度。即使持续扩大生产，公司仍难以满足所有订单需求。
为了应对市场变化，三星正大力推进HBM4等下一代产品生产。据悉，公司已于今年启动HBM4量产，并向客户提供相关样品。随着人工智能芯片不断升级，对更高带宽和更大容量内存的需求也在同步增长。
分析人士认为，当前HBM市场正从传统商品化存储市场转向更具战略属性的供应体系。过去客户主要围绕价格展开谈判，如今在人工智能产业高速扩张背景下，能否获得稳定供应已成为比价格更重要的考量因素。
随着英伟达、Google、微软以及其他云计算企业持续建设新一代人工智能基础设施，HBM供不应求的局面预计仍将持续相当长时间。对于三星、SK海力士和美光这三家掌握核心产能的厂商而言，它们在全球人工智能供应链中的影响力也正进一步增强。
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As the construction of artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to heat up, high bandwidth memory (HBM) has become one of the most critical components of the semiconductor industry worldwide. According to recent reports, Samsung electronics are using their HBM supply chain advantages to charge up to 25 per cent additional premiums to some data centre clients in exchange for long-term and stable supply security.
According to news sources, the wave of generating artificial intelligence and the construction of large data centres drives global technology firms to compete for HBM capacity in the coming years. Since HBM is an essential core component for the training and operation of advanced artificial intelligence models, large technology enterprises, including Weeda, Google and Microsoft, all wish to receive sufficient supplies in advance to ensure that future product and data centre deployment plans are not compromised.
Against this background, Samsung has entered into long-term supply agreements with several important clients. Approximately 80 per cent of the company ' s future memory capacity is reported to have been pre-locked through long-term contracts. For these clients, the price is lower than the mere pursuit of prices, and more important is to ensure a steady supply in the coming years.
The industry estimates that some clients are willing to accept procurement costs that are about 25 per cent higher than normal prices in order to obtain preferential supply eligibility. In essence, the premium is not the purchase of additional performances, but the supply of paid for global capacity constraints. As HBM is emerging as one of the most important strategic resources of the artificial intelligence chain, supply security itself is becoming a commodity of great value.
At the same time, the proliferation of long-term supply agreements is changing the business model of the entire storage industry. In addition to price premiums, new contracts often include provisions such as advance payments and minimum purchase volume commitments, which enable manufacturers to plan more accurately the expansion of capacity and capital inputs in the coming years.
As indicated earlier by the Tristar top, almost all major customers are seeking long-term supply agreements, and market demand is growing faster than the existing capacity expansion. Even if production continues to expand, companies still have difficulty meeting all demand for orders.
In response to market changes, Samsung is vigorously advancing production of next-generation products such as HBM4. It is known that the company has started HBM4 production this year and has provided relevant samples to customers. The demand for higher bandwidth and greater capacity memory is growing simultaneously with the upgrading of artificial intelligence chips.
According to analysts, the HBM market is now shifting from traditional commodified storage markets to more strategic supply systems. In the context of the rapid expansion of the artificial intelligence industry, where clients used to negotiate mainly around prices, the availability of stable supplies has become more important than price considerations.
The supply of and demand for HBM is expected to continue for a considerable period of time with the continued construction of a new generation of artificial intelligence infrastructure by British Weida, Google, Microsoft and other cloud computing enterprises. The influence of Samsung, SK Hercules and Mizuoka in the global artificial intelligence supply chain is also increasing.
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