Kioxia recently officially notified customers that it will discontinue production of MLC NAND flash memory products using "Thin Small Size Package" (TSOP).This package is mainly used for small-capacity (8Gb-64Gb) memory chips. The main reason for the suspension of production is that production capacity and substrate supply are limited, making related product lines unsustainable.
Customers need to submit final demand forecasts before May 30, 2026, the final order deadline is September 15, 2026, and the final shipment deadline is March 15, 2027. This timetable reserves a window for supply chain adjustments for downstream customers.
Industry analysis points out thatMLC NAND unit value is low, and the current AI boom has significantly boosted the demand for high-performance TLC/QLC flash memory. Leading manufacturers such as Kioxia are allocating resources to high value-added products.It is worth mentioning that Samsung launched its consumer MLC NAND flash memory business in May last year to further streamline its product portfolio.
At the same time, the storage industry is accelerating towards a long-term supply agreement model: Micron has locked in its first five-year strategic customer, and Samsung is promoting 3-5 year fixed-term contracts with core customers. Kioxia currently maintains annual pricing and quarterly review mechanisms, but some customers have taken the initiative to extend the agreement to 2027-2028, and relevant negotiations are underway.
