Korean storage capacity expands again, with Changxin Memory accelerating its pace to catch up.

The Bank of Korea released a report on Friday stating that with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix actively expanding domestic facilities, Korea's leading advantage in memory chip capacity is expected to further widen. The report indicates that by 2028, the launch of new chip factories could increase Korea's monthly wafer production capacity by approximately 600,000 wafers. During the same period, the monthly wafer production capacity of China's leading memory chip manufacturer, Changxin Memory Technologies, is expected to rise from the current 300,000 wafers to 600,000 wafers. Changxin Memory is currently constructing a wafer fab in Shanghai. The Bank of Korea noted that as Chinese manufacturers improve their self-sufficiency and strengthen domestic supply chains, Korea may face increasing structural pressure on its market share in the long term. In the advanced memory chip sector, the Bank of Korea's report projects that Korea will maintain its technological edge in the coming years. It is reported that in June of this year, the Korean government announced a long-term investment plan of at least $880 billion, involving companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Group, and Naver, with a focus on expanding semiconductor capacity, building AI data centers, and developing Physical AI infrastructure. The shared goal of the government and businesses is to double the memory capacity within five years. According to the latest report from market research firm Counterpoint Research, Changxin Memory is expected to capture a 10% share of the global DRAM market revenue by the second quarter of 2026, solidifying its position as the world's fourth-largest DRAM supplier. In terms of leading manufacturers, Samsung Electronics continues to lead the global DRAM market with a 39% market share; SK Hynix's share has decreased from 39% last year to 26%, but its quarterly revenue still grew by 214% year-on-year. Micron follows closely with a 25% share.