A new Brand Finance report shows the value of South Korean semiconductor brands surging to $15.1 billion, up 50% from 2024
SEOUL, 12 March 2025 – Two South Korean semiconductor brands feature in the global rankings this year with a combined brand value of USD15 billion, marking a 50% increase compared to 2024, according to Brand Finance Semiconductors 30 2025, a new report from Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy.
SK hynix (brand value up 37% to USD13.7 billion) has maintained its fourth position for four consecutive years, solidifying its presence among the top five sector brands since 2022. The brand’s growth can be attributed to a strong demand for for AI-focused high-bandwidth memory products, the development of an advanced chip packaging and R&D facility, further enhancing the semiconductor supply chain.
Meanwhile, Samsung Sdi (brand value down 2% to USD1.4 billion) ranks 23rd this year with a one-placement rise compared to 2024. While its brand value decreased slightly, it showed a 7% improvement in its Brand Strength Index (BSI), scoring 62 out of 100 while its brand strength rating grew from A to A+. A pertinent factor in Samsung Sdi’s BSI growth is its focus on green energy and advanced materials, driving innovation in EV batteries and energy storage systems.
Alex Haigh, Managing Director Asia Pacific, Brand Finance, commented:
"SK hynix’s sustained rank position underscores the growing dominance of AI-driven memory solutions, while Samsung SDI’s brand strength gains highlight the increasing importance of sustainable innovation. However, the industry is not without setbacks—geopolitical uncertainties, supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating demand continue to pose risks. Going forward, brands investing in advanced technology and sustainability will be best positioned to navigate these challenges and drive long-term growth."
Semiconductors Industry Global Insights
NVIDIA has retained its position as the world’s most valuable semiconductor brand. With a 98% increase in brand value to USD87.9 billion, NVIDIA’s brand value is now more than two and a half times that of TSMC, the second-most valuable brand in the sector. This growth propelled NVIDIA into the top 10 most valuable global brands list for the first time since it was valued in 2014, when it ranked 424th in the US 500. Last year, NVIDIA was the fastest growing brand in the world.
With a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 88.9 out of 100, NVIDIA has also become the world’s strongest semiconductor brand in 2025. This puts NVIDIA more than seven points ahead of Intel, whose BSI now stands at 81.4 out of 100 – a notable shift from Intel’s former position as the sector’s strongest brand in 2024.
The Brand Finance Semiconductors 2025 ranking has expanded from 20 to 30 brands, reflecting the intensifying competition and rising influence of emerging players in the semiconductor industry, particularly in Europe. This expansion highlights the sector's dynamic evolution, with new entrants such as UK-based Arm (brand value USD1.5 billion) and Dutch brand ASM (brand value USD837 million) making their mark.
Brand Finance is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Bridging the gap between marketing and finance, Brand Finance evaluates the strength of brands and quantifies their financial value to help organisations make strategic decisions.
Headquartered in London, Brand Finance operates in over 25 countries. Every year, Brand Finance conducts more than 6,000 brand valuations, supported by original market research, and publishes over 100 reports which rank brands across all sectors and countries.
Brand Finance also operates the Global Brand Equity Monitor, conducting original market research annually on 6,000 brands, surveying more than 175,000 respondents across 41 countries and 31 industry sectors. By combining perceptual data from the Global Brand Equity Monitor with data from its valuation database — the largest brand value database in the world — Brand Finance equips ambitious brand leaders with the data, analytics, and the strategic guidance they need to enhance brand and business value.
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance, compliant with ISO 20671.
Brand Finance is a regulated accountancy firm and a committed leader in the standardisation of the brand valuation industry. Brand Finance was the first to be certified by independent auditors as compliant with both ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 and has received the official endorsement of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) in the United States.
Brand is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset including, but not limited to, names, terms, signs, symbols, logos, and designs, intended to identify goods, services, or entities, creating distinctive images and associations in the minds of stakeholders, thereby generating economic benefits.
Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors. Brand Finance evaluates brand strength in a process compliant with ISO 20671, looking at Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and the impact of those on Business Performance. The data used is derived from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research programme and from publicly available sources.
Each brand is assigned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the score, each brand is assigned a corresponding Brand Rating up to AAA+ in a format similar to a credit rating.
Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. It involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.
The steps in this process are as follows:
1 Calculate brand strength using a balanced scorecard of metrics assessing Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and Business Performance. Brand strength is expressed as a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score on a scale of 0 to 100.
2 Determine royalty range for each industry, reflecting the importance of brand to purchasing decisions. In luxury, the maximum percentage is high, while in extractive industry, where goods are often commoditised, it is lower. This is done by reviewing comparable licensing agreements sourced from Brand Finance’s extensive database.
3 Calculate royalty rate. The BSI score is applied to the royalty range to arrive at a royalty rate. For example, if the royalty range in a sector is 0-5% and a brand has a BSI score of 80 out of 100, then an appropriate royalty rate for the use of this brand in the given sector will be 4%.
4 Determine brand-specific revenues by estimating a proportion of parent company revenues attributable to a brand.
5 Determine forecast revenues using a function of historic revenues, equity analyst forecasts, and economic growth rates.
6 Apply the royalty rate to the forecast revenues to derive brand revenues.
7 Discount post-tax brand revenues to a net present value which equals the brand value.
Brand Finance has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions presented in this study are based on publicly available information and certain assumptions that Brand Finance used where such data was deficient or unclear. Brand Finance accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate. The opinions and financial analysis expressed in the study are not to be construed as providing investment or business advice. Brand Finance does not intend the study to be relied upon for any reason and excludes all liability to any body, government, or organisation.
The data presented in this study form part of Brand Finance's proprietary database, are provided for the benefit of the media, and are not to be used in part or in full for any commercial or technical purpose without written permission from Brand Finance.
