April 26, 2024
Industrials
Chipmakers to increase NAND output capacity
[THE INVESTOR] Global chipmakers are stepping up efforts to boost their production capacity of NAND flash memory chips as demand for smartphones and data storage devices rebound.
After volatile price swings in recent years, semiconductor manufacturers are expected to benefit from a global upswing in prices for NAND chips in the coming quarters, coupled with a short supply.
Market researcher DRAMeXchange predicted that spot prices of NAND chips could rise by about 10 percent next year.
Demand for solid-state drives, which feature faster performance and consume less electricity than conventional hard drives for personal computers, is also driving up prices for NAND chips.
Companies are taking advantage of the bright outlook to expand.
Last week, SK hynix announced it will invest 3.15 trillion won (US$2.61 billion) to build a new plant at home and expand production of memory chips in China. Of the total investment, 2.2 trillion won will be spent to build a new NAND chip plant in Cheongju, central South Korea.
Samsung is said to begin production of fourth-generation, 64-layer vertical NAND chips at the end of this year.
It is currently putting the final touches on new semiconductor production lines in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul. The new facilities will likely produce NAND chips to meet roaring demand.
(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)
After volatile price swings in recent years, semiconductor manufacturers are expected to benefit from a global upswing in prices for NAND chips in the coming quarters, coupled with a short supply.
Market researcher DRAMeXchange predicted that spot prices of NAND chips could rise by about 10 percent next year.
Demand for solid-state drives, which feature faster performance and consume less electricity than conventional hard drives for personal computers, is also driving up prices for NAND chips.
Companies are taking advantage of the bright outlook to expand.
Last week, SK hynix announced it will invest 3.15 trillion won (US$2.61 billion) to build a new plant at home and expand production of memory chips in China. Of the total investment, 2.2 trillion won will be spent to build a new NAND chip plant in Cheongju, central South Korea.
Samsung is said to begin production of fourth-generation, 64-layer vertical NAND chips at the end of this year.
It is currently putting the final touches on new semiconductor production lines in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul. The new facilities will likely produce NAND chips to meet roaring demand.
(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)
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