Samsung Electronics announced a record-breaking preliminary operating profit of 107.40 trillion won ($80.2 billion) for the third quarter of 2026, surpassing the 100 trillion won mark for the first time in its history, fueled by soaring demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips [1]. This represents a 782% increase in operating profit compared to the same period last year [1]. The company's revenue for the quarter reached approximately 195 trillion won, marking a 127% year-over-year increase [1].
As the world's largest memory chipmaker, Samsung has seen significant benefits from the rising demand for memory chips used in AI infrastructure [1]. In the previous quarter, Samsung also posted record results, with revenue of 171.5 trillion won and operating profit of 89.5 trillion won, largely driven by its memory business [1].
Samsung has intensified its investments and partnerships in the AI sector. In September, the company announced a strategic partnership with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, aiming to deploy Mistral's AI models across Samsung's semiconductor operations [1].
The company is expected to release its full third-quarter earnings report, including a detailed breakdown by business division, later this month [1].
CONCLUSION
Samsung's record third-quarter profit underscores the transformative impact of AI-driven demand on the semiconductor industry. The company's strong financial performance and strategic AI partnerships position it for continued growth, with further details expected in its upcoming full earnings report.