SK Hynix ties US expansion to Chinese equipment access

Solidigm is currently eyeing upstate New York as a primary site for a new NAND flash memory factory, a move that aligns with Washington's pressure on foreign manufacturers to boost domestic production. However, the company aims to simultaneously upgrade its existing Chinese facility to meet rising global demand for solid-state storage drives. With AI data centers driving a surge in component requirements, market researchers at TrendForce anticipate NAND prices will climb by 15% to 20% during the final quarter of the year.

The negotiations come as the US government maintains strict export controls on advanced semiconductor technology, originally implemented in 2022 and further tightened under recent administrations. While SK Hynix maintains that all equipment installations at the Dalian site are conducted in full coordination with US regulators, the company is also looking toward a significant financial milestone. Solidigm is reportedly preparing for a 2027 initial public offering, with projections suggesting the unit could raise $10 billion at a valuation reaching $100 billion.