In the fourth quarter of last year, South Korea's NAND flash exports experienced a significant decline, falling by 13.1%. According to export-import statistics from the Korea Customs Service on Jan. 15, the export value of South Korea's NAND flash in the fourth quarter was $1.53236 billion (approximately 2.238 trillion won), compared to $1.76384 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022.

This downturn in exports has prompted major players in the industry, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, to consider adjusting their NAND supply. The first quarter of last year had shown promising growth, with an export value of $2.563 billion, a 71% increase compared to the same period the previous year. However, from the second quarter onwards, the export value began to decline, leading to stagnant figures throughout the third and fourth quarters.