SK Hynix commits $38B to two new DRAM and NAND fabs
SK Hynix approved 54 trillion won ($38.1 billion) for two plants — $24.9 billion at Yongin for HBM and other DRAM, $13.2 billion at Cheongju for NAND — with Yongin's first cleanroom not expected until June 2029. The timeline is the real signal: none of this capacity touches the current squeeze, and memory prices are projected to stay elevated through 2028 as demand outruns everything currently planned.
Source: engadget.com ↗
With demand growing even faster than planned capacity, memory prices are unlikely to soften before the end of 2028.
Neil Shah, Counterpoint Research
Why this matters
- → New DRAM/NAND capacity won't arrive until mid-2029, leaving memory prices elevated through 2028.
- → SK Hynix betting $38B that AI data center demand justifies massive fab investment despite bubble risks.
- → Chip makers prioritizing data center allocation over consumer products, extending PC/smartphone price pain.
Capacity crunch extends