GoKawiilSK hynix reportedly proposes US NAND fab to secure Dalian equipment licenses
SK hynix is reportedly offering to build a NAND flash fab in the United States in exchange for US approval to ship more chipmaking equipment to its Solidigm subsidiary's Dalian plant in China. The equipment would fill unused space in the plant's Mod B building, completed in 2023 but never fully outfitted due to the memory market downturn. Solidigm has applied for export licenses covering tools from Applied Materials, KLA and Lam Research, but the Commerce Department has not yet approved the additional shipments.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The proposal highlights the tension between US export controls meant to limit Chinese chipmaking capacity and multinational firms' need to keep existing China-based plants competitive. Washington's policy has generally permitted equipment deliveries that maintain output at multinational-operated Chinese fabs but not expansions, so officials may have to decide whether completing an already-built building counts as expansion. A US fab commitment could be seen as a bargaining chip to make the Dalian request more politically palatable to regulators.
- SK hynix reportedly ties a potential US NAND fab to winning export licenses for its Dalian, China plant.
- The unused Mod B building at Dalian, finished in 2023, could boost output of Solidigm's 192-layer 3D NAND if equipped.
- US regulators have not approved the additional equipment shipments, leaving the plan's outcome uncertain.
Solidigm D5-P5430 Data Center SSD — This is the exact type of drive the article discusses—built on Solidigm's 192-layer 3D NAND made at the Dalian fab. If you run a home lab or small server setup and want enterprise-grade endurance and capacity, it's a great way to get hands-on with the same flash technology powering hyperscale data centers.
See Solidigm D5-P5430 Data Center SSD on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techspot.com — Skye Jacobs, 2026-10-16
Published there as: “SK hynix reportedly offers to build a NAND fab in the US if Washington lets it expand in China”
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