Samsung Electronics noted during the earnings conference call for the fourth quarter of 2024, held on the 31st, that "the DRAM business will be more challenging in the first quarter than it was in the fourth quarter of last year," adding, "mobile and PC demand remains weak, and for HBM, demand uncertainty is increasing due to export controls on semiconductors for AI." Furthermore, it stated, "There is also a phenomenon of HBM demand deferral, leading to anticipated sales declines, so the first quarter is expected to see weakness in general-purpose DRAM and HBM sales also falling short of expectations."