[News] SK hynix Reportedly to Double DRAM Capacity to 1M Monthly Wafers by 2030, Speeds Yongin Expansion

SK hynix is reportedly preparing a major DRAM capacity expansion. According to The Elec, the company has shared plans with key suppliers to nearly double its DRAM wafer production capacity by 2030–2031 from current levels. The plan aligns with comments made by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at Computex 2026, where he said the company would “double overall wafer production capacity within five years at full speed.”

The report says SK hynix aims to raise monthly DRAM wafer capacity from about 550,000 wafers today to roughly 1 million wafers by 2030. The current figure includes around 200,000 wafers per month from its Wuxi fab in China.

Much of the expansion will be centered on the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. According to the report, SK hynix plans to divide its first Yongin fab into six cleanrooms and has moved up the first equipment installation schedule from May 2027 to February 2027. The fab is expected to add 360,000 wafers per month of DRAM capacity by the first half of 2030.

SK hynix is also expanding its M15X fab in Cheongju. The report says the facility is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2026 with an initial capacity of 40,000 wafers per month, rising to about 80,000 wafers per month in 2027.

Combined with the additional output from Yongin, SK hynix’s total DRAM wafer input capacity could approach 1 million wafers per month between 2030 and 2031, according to the report.

Notably, all newly added capacity is currently designated for DRAM production, the report notes. For NAND flash, SK hynix is expected to focus on technology upgrades, such as increasing layer counts, rather than significant capacity expansion.

Equipment Suppliers See Near-Term Gains, but Remain Cautious

The expansion of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster is drawing a growing number of semiconductor equipment and materials suppliers. According to iNews24, equipment and materials suppliers continue to move into the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. South Korean materials, parts, and equipment firms, along with ASML, Lam Research, and Tokyo Electron Korea, have either relocated or are in the process of moving in.

However, The Elec notes that suppliers remain cautious about execution given the scale and pace of the expansion plan. Supplier sources cited by the report said the increased investment is expected to provide a meaningful near-term boost for equipment and materials vendors, though achieving the full expansion target will ultimately depend on whether market demand remains strong enough to support it.

Samsung Also Accelerating DRAM Expansion

As for Samsung, according to Digital Daily, Samsung Electronics is accelerating DRAM capacity expansion at its P4 fab in Pyeongtaek by bringing forward its investment schedule. The report says Samsung’s DRAM investment next year could increase by roughly 10,000 wafers per month above previous estimates. Some industry observers also expect Samsung to begin issuing purchase orders for the P5 line from the second quarter of next year, potentially supporting investment equivalent to 150,000 wafers per month in 2027.

Read more

• [News] SK Chair Sees Memory Shortage Through 2030, Eyes Capacity Doubling and Stronger TSMC, Taiwan Ties
• [News] Samsung Unveils HBM5 Model for the First Time at Computex, Production Reportedly Seen Around 2028

(Photo credit: SK hynix)