[News] Micron Reportedly Eyes JDI’s Mobara Plant for Chip Assembly and Testing Expansion in Japan
While Micron has just completed its acquisition of a Tongluo fab from Taiwan-based PSMC, it may already be scouting its next target amid an aggressive expansion push. According to Nikkei, Japan Display Inc. (JDI) is in talks with Micron over the potential sale of its Mobara plant in Chiba Prefecture, which was once a key LCD production base.
According to Nikkei, Micron is planning to repurpose the facility for semiconductor assembly and testing operations. However, it adds that JDI is also in talks with multiple companies, with the U.S. memory giant seen as just one of several bidders. 47 News reports that an agreement could be reached as early as June 2026.
If the deal goes through, the transaction value is expected to reach several tens of billions of yen (¥10 billion ≈ $62.7 million), which would be a big boost for JDI’s turnaround efforts, Nikkei suggests.
CAFE Digital previously reported that JDI had announced plans to end production at its Mobara plant in Chiba Prefecture by March 2026. Nikkei notes that the Mobara site, acquired from Panasonic Holdings and launched in 2013, had served as a key production base for small- and medium-sized display panels used in smartphones and other devices.
The deal, if realized, could be a win-win for both JDI and Micron. Nikkei explains that LCD fabs are equipped with cleanrooms to control contamination, and—given their similar equipment and temperature requirements to semiconductor plants—are generally considered suitable for conversion into chip production facilities.
Between 2024 and 2025, Micron made similar moves in Taiwan, acquiring certain facilities and assets from panel maker AUO in Taichung and Tainan.
Meanwhile, Micron’s rumored move to acquire additional fabs in Japan seems to have a rationale. Nikkei notes that while Micron currently mass-produces memory at its Hiroshima Prefecture plant, where it is investing around ¥1.5 trillion to build a new facility expected to begin producing cutting-edge products around 2028, the company is also seeking a domestic base to support back-end processes such as packaging and assembly as production ramps up, the report adds.
Read more
- [News] Micron Plans 2nd Tongluo Facility After PSMC P5 Acquisition; Construction to Start by FY26
- [News] Micron Reportedly Schedules March 26 Tool Move-In at PSMC Tongluo Fab, Signaling Next Deal Phase
(Photo credit: Micron)
