SK hynix says U.S. approval delays for American semiconductor equipment are slowing its ability to expand production at a NAND plant in China, complicating plans for major memory-chip facilities in the United States. Multiple outlets report that U.S. officials are holding up approval for equipment needed for SK hynix’s Dalian, China expansion, where its Solidigm unit manufactures NAND flash memory and related storage products.
The delays affect how the company funds its U.S. buildout. SK hynix seeks export licenses to equip the Dalian facility, arguing that increased output there would generate revenue to support planned expansion in New York. Two outlets describe Solidigm’s planned investment in Marcy, including building two NAND plants, and note that approval for the China-related equipment remains pending.
Outlets also frame the situation as a policy challenge. They describe negotiations involving U.S. Commerce Department processes and refer to broader questions about whether the Trump administration will adjust national-security export guardrails to enable foreign investment and chipmaking onshore, while preventing advanced technology from aiding China’s military. One outlet notes that U.S. export licensing rules changed after SK hynix previously had certain longer-term approval status.
