SK Hynix's flash memory unit, Solidigm, is reportedly seeking US approval to send American chipmaking equipment to its factory in Dalian, China. This request comes as the company weighs plans to build a new NAND flash memory chip factory in the United States, with upstate New York identified as a potential location.
Reuters, citing anonymous sources, reported that Solidigm is seeking this approval as a condition for continuing its US factory plans. The company reportedly aims to install more chipmaking equipment in spare space at the Dalian factory to boost NAND chip production.
SK Hynix, however, told TechCrunch that it is not seeking to expand capacity at its Dalian Mod B facility, which was completed in 2023. The company added that the equipment installation is being carried out in consultation with and under authorisation from the US government.
The US imposed restrictions on advanced chip and chipmaking equipment exports to China in October 2022, tightening these rules in 2023. In September 2025, special export exemptions for certain SK Hynix, Samsung, and Intel facilities in China were revoked, though the US has since granted annual licenses for sending equipment to their Chinese plants.
NAND flash chips are used in solid-state storage drives found in devices from laptops to AI data centres. Research firm Trendforce anticipates NAND prices to rise by 15% to 20% in the fourth quarter due to increased demand from AI data centres.