Korean Exports Skyrocket Thanks to AI || July 2, 2026
Korean exports are up roughly 70% year over year, surpassing $100 billion in a single month. So, what's causing this extreme growth?
It's all thanks to AI. Korea dominates the global market for advanced DRAM, accounting for ~90% of global high-end memory. As long as the globalized supply chain supporting the AI ecosystem holds, countries like Korea will continue to reap the benefits.
Between chip design, manufacturing, raw materials, packaging, and testing, there is a fragile international AI network that won't last forever. And no single country can do all of this alone.
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Comments (22)
Watching other sources of info suggests that US AI companies have yet to find a business model that monetizes income to a profitable level. Most are losing money at an alarming rate. Here's one vid... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=siazPdsZHuI&pp=ygUMQUkgYW5kIGNoaW5h. Then, if any of the hardware supply chain is interrupted you end up with PZs scenario. All in all, AI looks to be cutting back in the near future.
This isn't going to unfold the way Peter says it will. The first thing that will happen is in part already happening - "Peak AI." The cost and support for AI data centers isn't sustainable, and companies are putting a hold on AI spending. Look at what happened to Uber last quarter - they ran out of an entire year's AI budget. Then there are the rise of Open Source LLMs that can run on lower spec hardware. Lots of development in that space. All designed to make AI sustainable from a cost perspective. Do we need more manufacturing plant? Absolutely. But that's not going to be online before 2030 in several cases. Manufacturing is both capital and time intensive. Assuming the next Administration continues our nearly 10 year trade war, and the GOP treat to global security continues (it will), we need to secure our supply chains. I don't see this taking 20 or 30 years. We are already accustomed to higher prices and unless there is sufficient pressure on the market, that won't change. What I do see, is more of the kind of Socialism where the government takes a financial stake in, and some control over, US companies. Biden started this, Trump is expanding it. I also see more political backlash against Datacenters and against traditional politicians who fail to deliver to the voters. Unless we see a dramatic increase in quality of life, a reversal of the last 30 years, the pitchforks and torches will continue to be deployed.
Anyone know what Rocket Surgery is.
Micron is also a big player in DRAM! Based in Boise, Idaho.
“I’m in favor of progress, it’s changed I don’t like.” Mark Twain
Ryan MacBeth has some refinements for Peter's post. Also a bet. https://youtu.be/orQ78Sab3wg?is=ajfHJJ1mEX4JUF38
Unless you want to join me for a wee dram of something Spey-side, or a bit of the highland whiskey, it is pronounced DEE ram.
Nothing lasts forever, because change is inevitable. The AI bubble is starting to deflate already.
Not “dram,” D-Ram. Semiconductor knowledge needs work.
We have rare earth production and processing coming online. We also have chip manufacturing coming online. Packaging is also being built out. If anything tech is getting redundant backups. I think we are heading in the opposite direction. Not a drought but a deluge of tech.
Isnt it pronounced D-RAM. 😀
If AI data center tyranny isn't stopped, 1789.2 may occur on a global scale.
You've been so, so, so, so, so, so, so wrong about oil in the last month- why on Earth should anyone believe you about the computing supply chain?!?!?!
I do not think AI will go anywhere, as it is very convenient and soon to be cheap (bubble burst) . It definitely won’t be what we have now, but it will transform in something as - local, small, fast , cheap models that do task they are assigned to do. May be less of summarizing Brittanica in 20min thing. Quite likely less of that.
It's pronounced "D ram", not like whiskey.
AI continues to be one of peters worst takes
?
We should strive to stay closer to a type 1 civilization.
Rocket surgery?!?! That’s in Year 2 of the Weyland Yutani Zero G Welding Professional Certificate Program for Future Frozen Human Cary Peter! We aren’t supposed to talk about that until 2031!!!
Cargo* sorry. Rushed that one. Afraid you’ll get caught for violating the WY NDA
What about TSMC Arizona, are we not replacing the bulk of Taiwain’s supply chain that way?
Not for a long time.