{
  "id": 14948908,
  "title": "SK hynix reportedly offers to build a NAND fab in the US if Washington lets it expand in China",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/sk-hynix-reportedly-offers-to-build-a-nand-fab-in-the-us-if",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-16T11:58:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechSpot",
    "slug": "techspot",
    "url": "https://www.techspot.com/news/114224-sk-hynix-reportedly-offers-build-nand-fab-us.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rumor has it that SK hynix may offer to construct a NAND fab in the United States, contingent upon Washington granting it expanded operations in China. This proposal could potentially boost Solidigm's production of flash memory for data center solid-state drives while simultaneously promising new American semiconductor manufacturing to the U.S. government. The equipment would be installed in unused space within Dalian's Mod B building, which was completed in 2023 but remained underutilized due to a memory market downturn. Some tools have been installed, but a significant portion of the space remains vacant.\n\nFor Solidigm, leaving this space idle poses a challenge as it sells every SSD it manufactures, and expanded NAND output would enable the company to supply more drives. The Dalian plant is the sole factory globally producing Solidigm's 192-layer floating-gate 3D NAND, which is utilized in SSDs for AI, enterprise, and hyperscale data centers. The factory depends on equipment provided by U.S. suppliers, including Applied Materials, KLA, and Lam Research.\n\nThese companies require export licenses to transport their tools to China, a policy that typically permits some equipment deliveries to Chinese factories belonging to multinational corporations like SK hynix and Samsung. However, Washington aims to prevent these plants from increasing output or adopting newer manufacturing technologies. This raises a critical question about the Dalian proposal: completing the existing factory by installing tools in Mod B would boost production, but it does not resolve how U.S. officials will evaluate the equipment requests.\n\nSolidigm has applied for the necessary licenses, yet the Commerce Department has not approved additional shipments. In December 2023, the Commerce Department granted SK hynix limited authorization to deliver equipment to Dalian in 2026, but has not issued a similar authorization for 2027. The licensing discussions are occurring as Solidigm develops successors to its current 192-layer memory. Avi Shetty, who oversees the company's AI solutions and ecosystem business, stated at Computex 2026 that Solidigm intends to develop fifth- and sixth-generation floating-gate NAND. However, he did not announce plans for increased production at Dalian or a U.S. fab.\n\nWhile the proposal outlines Solidigm's technology plans, the manufacturing arrangements underlying them remain unclear. Increasing production at Dalian could help finance the proposed American factory, as profits from additional NAND sales could contribute to construction costs and support Solidigm until U.S. production becomes available. Additionally, Solidigm is contemplating an initial public offering as early as 2027 to raise capital. However, the U.S. NAND fab remains a proposal, the equipment requests are pending approval, and the IPO is still under consideration. Solidigm's immediate focus is on installing tools in the vacant space at Dalian, while its next challenge lies in securing the manufacturing capacity and regulatory approvals to bring future generations of floating-gate NAND into production.",
  "summary": "The equipment would go into unused space in Dalian's Mod B building. Completed in 2023, the building was never fully equipped because of the memory market downturn. Some tools are installed, but much of the space remains available. Read Entire Article",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Tom's Hardware",
        "title": "SK hynix reportedly playing hardball with Trump admin over 3D NAND fab — company demands increased chipmaking equipment exports to China in exchange for US fab",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/sk-hynix-reportedly-playing-hardball-with-trump-admin-over-3d-nand",
        "published": "2026-10-15T17:40:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}