Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions (DS) division has reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter of 2024, grappling with a series of challenges that have raised concerns within the semiconductor industry. Experts point to five major obstacles currently facing Samsung’s semiconductor business: falling prices for general-purpose DRAM, delays in HBM deliveries, slowing demand for enterprise solid-state drives (eSSDs), widening losses in its foundry business, and escalating tensions between the US-China conflicts that may be difficult to resolve in the short term.