SK Hynix Kioxia Partnership and Joint Production
SK Hynix Kioxia joint production is actively on the table as SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won signaled the possibility of building a joint semiconductor plant in Japan by the end of the year. In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun published on September 2, Chey noted that collaborative manufacturing is a viable option if it aligns with Kioxia’s future strategy. He also mentioned potential cooperation in research, development, and supply chain sharing, while cautioning that investments could be terminated if further cooperative ties cannot be established.
Global NAND Market Impact and AI Demand
The synergy between South Korea’s SK Hynix and Japan’s Kioxia could significantly alter the global NAND flash memory landscape. According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung Electronics held the top spot at 25 percent in Q2, followed by SK Hynix at 22 percent and Kioxia at 14 percent, bringing their combined market share to 36 percent. Amid a 20 to 30 percent shortage of data center memory driven by generative AI expansion, Chey highlighted Japan as an attractive production hub due to its dense network of equipment and material suppliers.
