China’s YMTC breaks into global top 3 flash-memory suppliers for first time

Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC) has broken into the world’s top three NAND flash memory suppliers by volume for the first time, marking a milestone for China’s semiconductor ambitions as it strives to narrow the revenue gap with global rivals in high-value data-centre storage.

The Wuhan-based chipmaker captured 14 per cent of global NAND bit shipments – a measure of total storage capacity shipped rather than total chip units – in the second quarter, narrowly overtaking Japan’s Kioxia, according to data from Counterpoint Research published on Wednesday.

Samsung Electronics retained the global lead with a 25 per cent market share, while SK Hynix – including its Solidigm subsidiary – was second at 22 per cent.

YMTC’s shipments climbed 22 per cent year on year and 5 per cent quarter on quarter, driven by expanding supplies to domestic electronics manufacturers and the increased production of its latest-generation 3D NAND architecture, Counterpoint said.

Despite its surge in shipment volume, YMTC’s market position lags in dollar terms. The company ranked fifth globally in NAND revenue for the quarter, placing it behind both US-based Micron Technology and Kioxia.

The gap stems from YMTC’s heavy exposure to lower-margin consumer products and a relatively small footprint in enterprise solid-state drives (eSSDs), which command higher pricing.