Samsung Electronics plans to upgrade its Xian facility in China to produce 286-layer V9 NAND chips. [1, 5, 9] The project aims to help the company compete with Chinese rivals and meet demand from AI data centers. [9]
The upgrade is part of a broader effort by South Korean chipmakers to navigate U.S. export restrictions while continuing to invest in key Chinese manufacturing sites. [5] The Xian plant accounts for approximately 40% of Samsung’s global NAND output. [9]
Samsung shares listed in South Korea rose more than 5.6% following the news. [2, 5, 7] The rally also reflected renewed optimism in the AI sector after strong earnings from a U.S. AI server manufacturer. [7, 9]