Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix’s investment in the cutting-edge NAND field is about to start in full swing.Previously, due to long-term priority investment of resources into DRAM, related plans have been repeatedly postponed.As the artificial intelligence industry drives storage demand to rise rapidly, the two companies have recently begun to finalize specific expansion plans.
Industry sources show that both Samsung and SK Hynix plan to promote "conversion investment" in cutting-edge NAND in the second quarter of this year.
Samsung has launched mass production of 280-layer V9 NAND in September 2024, but the current production capacity is still small, with a monthly production capacity of only about 15,000 wafers. Previously, due to market demand considerations, Samsung only deployed a preliminary mass production line in Pyeongtaek Park.
Next, Samsung plans to expand V9 production capacity from the second quarter of this year, focusing on the X2 production line in Xi'an, China. Currently, this production line still mainly produces older 6th to 7th generation NAND, while the conversion of the adjacent X1 production line to 8th generation NAND has been basically completed.
It is reported that,The current conversion investment scale discussed in the industry is about 40,000-50,000 wafers per month. With the gradual introduction of equipment, V9 NAND is expected to officially enter the mass production acceleration stage starting next year.
Semiconductor industry insiders revealed that Samsung originally planned to start the V9 conversion of the X2 production line in Xi'an in the first quarter, but the current schedule has been postponed to the second quarter. At the same time, Pyeongtaek First Park (P1) is also preparing for related investments. It is expected that the proportion of V9 products in production will increase significantly next year.
SK Hynix is also actively promoting the expansion of advanced NAND production capacity. The company plans to start conversion investment in 321-layer 9th-generation NAND in the second quarter of this year, with the goal of achieving a V9 production capacity of approximately 30,000 wafers per month at the Cheongju M15 factory. Compared with the current level of about 20,000 wafers, this expansion is significant.
Industry observers pointed out thatBoth Samsung and SK Hynix are making early arrangements for the continued growth in demand for advanced NAND. In the past, the equipment investments of the two companies were almost entirely focused on DRAM, and the NAND market is now showing signs of tight supply.
