SK Hynix in talks with Intel over US memory chip production
South Korean memory chipmaker SK Hynix is reportedly discussing options with Intel to manufacture RAM chips in the United States, though SK Hynix says no final decisions have been made.
South Korean memory chip manufacturer SK Hynix is in discussions with Intel about producing RAM chips in the United States for the first time, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources. One option reportedly under consideration would have SK Hynix leasing space at Intel's planned Ohio factory to manufacture chips there. The two companies are also said to be weighing a joint venture that could involve cloud-service providers.
SK Hynix told TechCrunch on Wednesday that nothing has been finalized. The company said it is exploring various options to strengthen its global competitiveness but that no specific plans or arrangements have been confirmed, and no decisions have been made on either scenario described in the report.
Riding the AI memory boom
SK Hynix has benefited enormously from surging demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI data centers. The company is already building a $3.8 billion advanced packaging and research facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, with mass production slated to start in 2029; that plant will package DRAM wafers made in South Korea into HBM chips. It remains unclear what type of memory chips would be produced in Ohio under a potential deal with Intel.
Amid a worsening global chip shortage, the Trump administration has been pushing to expand semiconductor manufacturing on US soil, including considering broader tariffs on chip imports while offering relief to companies that invest domestically. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won signaled support in July for building US factories alongside those in South Korea, and that same month the company listed its shares on the Nasdaq to attract American investors.
Any deal with Intel could face scrutiny in South Korea, since transferring strategically important chip technology abroad can trigger a mandatory government review under national law, according to Reuters. Intel and SK Hynix have a prior business relationship: in 2020, Intel sold its NAND flash-memory unit to SK Hynix for $9 billion.
