SK Hynix in talks with Intel over first US memory chip production

SK Hynix is in discussions with Intel to produce memory chips in the United States for the first time, according to Reuters, citing anonymous sources. The companies have reportedly weighed several options, including SK Hynix leasing space at Intel's planned Ohio factory and a joint venture that could involve cloud-service providers.

Asked by TechCrunch, SK Hynix said no specific plans had been finalized. The company said it was exploring various options to strengthen its global competitiveness, but no specific plans or arrangements had been finalized, and no decisions had been made on the two scenarios mentioned in the article.

The South Korean memory maker is already investing $3.8 billion in an advanced packaging and research facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, for AI chips, with mass production expected to begin in 2029. That plant is expected to use DRAM wafers made in South Korea and package them into HBM chips. It remains unclear what memory products would be produced in Ohio if an agreement is reached.

The potential deal comes as the U.S. pushes to expand domestic chip production amid a worsening global shortage. In January 2026, the White House said it could impose broader tariffs on semiconductor imports while offering tariff relief to companies investing in domestic manufacturing. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said in July that the company should build U.S. factories if feasible, and SK Hynix listed American depositary receipts on the Nasdaq that month.

Reuters reported that any plan involving strategically important chip technology could trigger a review under South Korean law designed to prevent sensitive technology from being transferred overseas. Intel and SK Hynix have prior ties: Intel sold its NAND flash-memory business to SK Hynix for $9 billion in 2020.