회사 소식 Sandisk and Kioxia have yen for new NAND fabs

Kioxia and Sandisk plan over $31‑billion (¥5‑trillion) NAND output expansion in Japan, conditional on Japanese government support.

Their joint venture operates NAND wafer fabs at Yokkaichi (Mie Prefecture, primary site) and Kitakami (Iwate Prefecture). Kioxia runs the facilities, while the JV funds and purchases output; roughly 60% flows to Kioxia and 40% to Sandisk.

Kioxia President‑CEO Hiroo Ota stated the investment strengthens its long‑term Sandisk partnership and supports AI‑driven society advancement. He noted Kioxia will satisfy rising demand for high‑capacity, high‑efficiency flash memory, and highlighted the value of ongoing Japanese government strategic backing. Alongside Sandisk CEO‑Chairman David Goeckeler, Ota met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi yesterday. Per Asahi News, Ota expects government subsidies covering around one‑third of total investment.

The Prime Minister offered a positive non‑committal response, welcoming the six‑year ¥5‑trillion investment and voicing expectations for expanded next‑gen memory R&D and manufacturing within Japan.

David Goeckeler commented the planned spending aligns with corporate strategy, meets growing customer technology demands, delivers local economic benefits, and serves as a leading U.S.‑Japan economic‑collaboration example.

Yokkaichi hosts Fab 2‑7; Kitakami runs Fab 1‑2. New capital will upgrade infrastructure and supporting technology across both sites. Fab3, under construction with fiscal‑2029 targeted output, costs an estimated $11.3 billion (¥1.8 trillion). No new Yokkaichi fab has been disclosed, leaving much of the total budget publicly unallocated.

Kioxia clarified media reports about a new Kitakami facility are not official announcements. The firm is evaluating multiple options, including new‑fab construction, for sustainable corporate‑value growth.

The investment through 2032 hinges on continued Japanese government support and will reinforce the JV while securing multi‑year flash‑memory supply. In January, Kioxia and Sandisk extended their JV deal five further years to December 31, 2034. Earlier this month, Kioxia disclosed capacity expansion at Yokkaichi and Kitakami. The spending responds to expectations of ten‑plus years of AI‑fueled NAND and SSD sales growth.

Footnote

SK Hynix is also expanding NAND capacity. It has resumed construction of Solidigm Plant 2 in Dalian, China, after an earlier industry downturn. In Korea, its new Cheongju M17 NAND fab will occupy 206 000 pyeong (~680 000 m²), with groundbreaking scheduled February 2027. Micron is investing $24 billion for new 3D‑NAND capacity at Singapore’s Fab 10B; construction commenced this January at its North Coast Wafer Fab Park campus.

Beijing Qianxing Jietong Technology Co., Ltd.
Sandy Yang/Global Strategy Director
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Email: yangyd@qianxingdata.com
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