Apple is seeking approval from U.S. authorities to buy memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), according to reporting cited by multiple outlets including the Financial Times. CXMT is reportedly listed on the Pentagon’s 1260H roster, a designation used for companies with alleged connections to the Chinese military. The outlets say Apple has been lobbying officials at the U.S. Commerce Department and other Trump administration members to obtain the necessary clearance.
The reports also describe CXMT as a major supplier in China’s memory industry. Tech in Asia adds that CXMT accounts for about 6% of global DRAM output (Q1 2025) and produces DDR5 memory products. The Next Web further notes that Apple’s request is occurring amid higher memory prices, which it describes as having quadrupled, increasing pressure on supply and sourcing options.
Overall, the coverage focuses on Apple’s effort to secure regulatory permission for purchases from a company subject to U.S. national-security scrutiny, and on CXMT’s role as a DRAM manufacturer offering DDR5 products.
