Samsung, SK Hynix Tests of Chinese Chip Tools Expose Cracks in US Export Strategy
South Korean chipmakers are evaluating Chinese equipment as a hedge against shifting export rules from Washington.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the world's top memory chip manufacturers, have been testing chipmaking equipment from Chinese firm Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. (AMEC) for about two years, according to local reports. This testing is a precaution against stricter U.S. export controls that could eventually restrict Western firms' access to servicing tools in their Chinese facilities.
Samsung has denied conducting tests or considering them at their China plant, while SK Hynix has not commented. Nevertheless, engineers from both firms began evaluating AMEC's etching tools around two years ago. In 2023, the U.S. Commerce Department granted Samsung and SK Hynix's Chinese factories validated end user status, allowing them to import certain controlled American equipment without needing a license each time.
However, Washington revoked this status in 2025 and later granted both companies a narrower annual license for 2026. This fluctuation in policy left the chipmakers uncertain about receiving spare parts, software updates, and repair support for their existing American and Dutch tools. The precision required for memory-chip production lines makes supplier uncertainty a significant challenge.
Meanwhile, China's chipmaking sector has been advancing rapidly. Shanghai-based state-backed manufacturer Shanghai Aishengna Electronic Technology Group began mass-producing immersion deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines in late July. The company aims to deliver around five units this year and about 20 in 2027 to three top Chinese chipmakers.
Although DUV technology is older and not expected to pose an immediate threat to Dutch firm ASML, China's push for self-sufficiency in chip hardware is paired with an expansion into finished AI chips. Huawei intends to launch its Ascend 950 processors and Atlas 950 SuperPod computing system in South Korea in the fourth quarter of 2026, positioning them as a more affordable alternative to Nvidia's export-compliant H20 chip.
Experts attribute China's rapid development of advanced technology to its "move fast and regulate later" approach, though this strategy raises concerns about the security and quality of Chinese innovations. Despite potential security concerns and doubts about software support, Huawei's AI chip launch remains on track for the fourth quarter of this year.
Aishengna's lithography output is projected to reach around 20 units by 2027. Samsung and SK Hynix have not disclosed whether their AMEC trials will extend beyond testing.
Written by urgent.news from The Diplomat's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
