SK hynix seeks US approval to ship equipment to China: sources

South Korea’s SK Hynix is seeking U.S. government approval to export American-made chipmaking equipment to its Dalian facility in China. According to Investing.com and Economic Times Tech, the company aims to install equipment in an unused section of the site known as Mod B to increase NAND flash memory production. This request is linked to plans by Solidigm, SK Hynix's U.S. unit, to build a new NAND flash memory factory in the United States.

The Dalian site utilizes tools from U.S. companies including Lam Research, Applied Materials, and KLA. While Economic Times Tech reports the move is a condition for building a U.S. factory, SK Hynix stated to Reuters that it is not seeking to expand capacity at the Dalian facility and that equipment installation at Mod B is being conducted under authorization from and in close consultation with the U.S. government.

The push for increased production comes amid a global memory chip shortage that has driven prices higher. Tech in Asia notes that Washington has been urging foreign chipmakers to expand manufacturing within the U.S. while restricting chipmaking equipment exports to China.

Brief written by urgent.news from Tech in Asia, Investing.com, Techmeme, Economic Times Tech, SCMP Tech — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.