SK hynix and Samsung map new U.S. chip output, papers say

Two Korean newspapers reported on Nov 3 that SK hynix and Samsung Electronics are lining up new chip production in the United States. Samsung also closed a U.S. patent case, and its newest foldable phone picked up sales at home.

⤢

A New York flash plant worth up to 130 trillion won

SK hynix’s subsidiary Solidigm plans to spend as much as 130 trillion won (about US$96.9 billion) on a NAND flash plant at the Marcy Nanocenter site in New York State, the Seoul Economic Daily reported. It would be the group’s first NAND fab on U.S. soil. The Seoul Economic Daily described the facility as a 100,000-wafer plant.

SK hynix is also getting ready to produce high-bandwidth flash (HBF), a type of flash memory meant for AI storage, at the site, according to the Seoul Economic Daily. The newspaper presented the step as a way for SK hynix to extend its lead in HBM, the stacked memory placed next to AI chips, into flash.

In a separate report, the Seoul Economic Daily said SK hynix is adding NAND capacity in China as well.

A second overseas question is still open. After an Aug 21 press report that SK hynix would build a chip plant in Japan, the company said it was weighing several options, more production sites among them, and that nothing had been settled. It has said it will update the market on that report by December 17, 2026.

SK hynix shares closed at 1,398,000 won on Nov 3, down 5.03% from 1,472,000 won at the Nov 2 close. The TIGER 200 ETF, a fund that tracks the KOSPI 200 index, lost 3.01% over the same session.

Texas base dies for AMD, Maeil reports

Samsung Electronics has decided to make HBM base dies, the logic chip at the bottom of an HBM stack, at the second chip plant it plans for Taylor, Texas, Maeil Business Newspaper reported in an exclusive. According to Maeil, the dies would go to key customers such as AMD.

Maeil said the plan is aimed at big tech companies that want a source of supply besides TSMC. Reuters carried the Maeil story and described the Texas-made parts as meant for both AMD and Nvidia chips.

The second Taylor fab is still at the planning stage. Neither Maeil nor Reuters reported that building work on it has begun.

Samsung shares ended Nov 3 at 219,500 won, a 4.15% drop from 229,000 won at the Nov 2 close, against the TIGER 200’s 3.01% decline over that session.

A Netlist settlement closes a U.S. patent probe

The U.S. International Trade Commission has ended its patent investigation into Samsung chips, Yonhap reported. The commission closed the case after Samsung reached a settlement with Netlist. Yonhap filed the story from Washington, dated Nov 2 local time, and published it at 05:19 KST on Nov 3. The settlement’s terms are not known.

The Fold8 picks up after Apple’s foldable debut

Citing local telecom industry figures, The Korea Herald reported that domestic sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 for the Oct 23-29 week were up more than 20% from the prior week. Total unit numbers were not disclosed.

Other outlets gave slightly different figures. JoongAng Daily and The Chosun Daily put the gain at about 20%, while Maeil Business Newspaper called it a double-digit rise.

The pickup came after Apple launched the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, according to Yonhap and The Korea Herald. The Korea Herald wrote that Apple’s arrival appears to be stirring fresh consumer interest in foldable phones.

Outlets offered different reasons for the Fold8’s gain. JoongAng Daily reported that the increase is believed to reflect a consumer preference for Samsung’s hinge technology and durability. The Chosun Daily reported that the iPhone Duo is dealing with display defects, and said the Fold8 is winning favor on durability and price.

---

Information only, not investment advice.