SK hynix shares fell sharply in Seoul amid negotiations with Washington over equipment exports to China. The chipmaker seeks to continue shipping U.S. tools to its Dalian facility beyond the current license expiration at the end of 2026.
U.S. approval for these exports is reportedly a condition for SK hynix to build a new factory in the United States. This requirement forces the company to navigate complex geopolitical tensions to secure its manufacturing roadmap.
A broader AI sector selloff and a technology breakthrough by Chinese rival CXMT further pressured the stock. These developments have intensified market fears regarding a potential slowdown in the global AI boom.