[News] Kioxia Denies SK hynix Joint Production Talks, Seeks NAND Price Stability to Sustain AI Investment
Kioxia is pushing back on the prospect of deeper ties with SK hynix. According to Bloomberg, Kioxia CEO Hiroo Ota said closer cooperation with its rival and shareholder would face antitrust hurdles. Ota also stressed that the two companies are not discussing joint production, saying Kioxia would need to find other ways to keep surging memory prices in check.
Kioxia’s existing partnership with Sandisk could complicate a potential production tie-up with SK hynix. According to Yonhap News, Sandisk’s latest 10-K filing states that while the Flash Ventures partnerships remain in operation, the two companies are restricted from manufacturing flash-based memory with third parties or producing beyond the capacity agreed between them.
The comments come as memory makers undertake costly capacity expansions to keep pace with soaring demand from AI service providers. Bloomberg notes that some investors, including the chairman of SK hynix parent SK Inc., have suggested manufacturing partnerships as a way to reduce the risks associated with the massive capital commitments required.
SK Chairman Chey Tae-won previously suggested a manufacturing partnership between Kioxia and SK hynix as one possible option. SK Group later sought to clarify the extent of those considerations. Yonhap News reported that the group acknowledged investment in Japan was among the ideas being considered, but denied that it was considering a joint-venture fab.
Memory Makers Ramp Up Capacity Expansion
Persistent memory shortages are driving major capacity investments across the industry. Kioxia and Sandisk plan to invest more than $31 billion (approximately JPY 5 trillion) in Japan through 2032, including the continued buildout of their Yokkaichi and Kitakami plants. SK hynix, meanwhile, is investing KRW 54 trillion ($40 billion) to expand chip production in Korea and is also building an advanced packaging facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, Bloomberg adds.
Against this backdrop, existing ties between Kioxia and SK hynix have fueled speculation about deeper cooperation. Bloomberg notes that the two companies are jointly developing nonvolatile magnetic memory, while Kioxia sources DRAM from SK hynix for some of its SSDs. SK hynix also holds convertible bonds that could translate into a leading 14.19% stake in Kioxia.
Kioxia Prioritizes Price Stability as NAND Demand Stays Strong
NAND prices have risen sharply as AI-driven storage demand tightens supply. According to TrendForce, enterprise SSD prices rose around 35% in 2H25 and are projected to surge by a cumulative 235% in 2026.
Despite the strong pricing environment, Ota, who took the helm in April, has instructed Kioxia’s sales teams not to push for significantly higher prices from data center operators, concerned that excessive costs could weaken investment appetite in the AI sector. While he did not rule out future price hikes, Ota said Kioxia’s priority for now is to maintain prices at their current high levels, Bloomberg notes.
Notably, some of the world’s largest technology companies are already seeking NAND supply agreements extending as far as 2030, Ota said. Kioxia is also close to its goal of covering 50% of shipment volume under long-term agreements, Bloomberg adds.
Read more
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(Photo credit: Kioxia)
