Samsung and SK Hynix test Chinese chip equipment amid US export controls
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are evaluating chipmaking equipment from China’s Advanced Micro‑Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) for possible use in their Chinese factories. The memory makers began testing AMEC etching tools about two years ago as a hedge against the risk of tighter U.S. export controls.
The U.S. Commerce Department had designated the two companies’ Chinese plants as validated end users (VEU) in 2023, allowing imports of certain controlled U.S. tools without individual licences. That VEU status was revoked in 2025 and an annual licence was issued for 2026. Both firms remain wary that future restrictions could extend to servicing, repair or replacement of existing Western equipment.
Consequently, Samsung and SK Hynix are keeping Chinese suppliers as a reserve to maintain and upgrade existing production lines rather than expand capacity. Samsung operates a NAND flash memory plant in Xian, while SK Hynix runs NAND facilities in Dalian and a DRAM plant in Wuxi. No decision on wider deployment of AMEC equipment has been made.
Entities: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. · Advanced Micro‑Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) · Apple Inc. · China · Nvidia Corporation · SK Hynix · Samsung Electronics · Taiwan · Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company · U.S. Commerce Department · United States · Xian, China
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 9 SOURCES] The evaluation began about two years ago. (sources)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Samsung operates a NAND flash memory plant in Xian, China. (Samsung)
- [● 10 SOURCES] The VEU authorization was revoked in 2025 and an annual license was granted for 2026. (U.S. Commerce Department)
- [● 10 SOURCES] The U.S. Commerce Department designated Samsung and SK Hynix’s Chinese factories as validated end users (VEU) in 2023. (U.S. Commerce Department)
- [● 10 SOURCES] The companies are keeping Chinese suppliers as a reserve to maintain and upgrade existing production lines. (sources)
- [● 10 SOURCES] No decision on wider deployment of AMEC equipment has been made. (sources)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are evaluating chipmaking equipment from China's Advanced Micro‑Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) for possible use in their Chinese factories. (sources)
- [● 10 SOURCES] SK Hynix has NAND facilities in Dalian and a DRAM plant in Wuxi, China. (SK Hynix)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Testing of AMEC etching equipment began about two years ago. (sources)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are evaluating chipmaking equipment from AMEC for possible use at their Chinese factories. (sources)