SK Hynix is reportedly making plans for a new U.S. factory conditional on Washington approving exports of U.S.-made chipmaking equipment to its plants in China. According to sources, its U.S. unit, Solidigm, is seeking to install additional U.S.-made tools at its Dalian facility to increase NAND flash memory production amid high demand.
The request puts SK Hynix at the center of U.S.-China technology tensions. Washington has restricted such exports to curb Beijing’s technology ambitions while also pushing to expand chip manufacturing in the United States.
Approval would allow SK Hynix to maintain and upgrade its significant operations in China, which could help fund the proposed U.S. factory.