YMTC Leads China’s NAND Market as Samsung Upgrades Xi’an Plant
Chinese memory maker Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) took the largest share of China’s NAND market in the second quarter of 2026, overtaking Samsung and SK hynix in the country, according to market data cited by Reuters. The shift has sharpened competition in China as Samsung and SK hynix upgrade manufacturing technology at their local facilities.
Omdia data cited by Reuters put YMTC’s China NAND share at 38.5% in Q2 2026, up from 28% for all of 2025. Samsung’s share fell to 33.5% from 36%, while SK hynix’s declined to 17% from 20%.
Samsung targets 286-layer NAND at Xi’an
Samsung is converting production at its Xi’an facility in China to manufacture ninth-generation V-NAND chips with 286 layers, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the plans. The plant currently makes chips with around 200 layers and accounts for about 40% of Samsung’s global NAND output.
The reported plan targets monthly output of 5,000 wafers in December 2026, rising to 40,000 by December 2027. Samsung said the upgrade is intended to meet customer demand and does not involve expanding production capacity or building new facilities.
The move brings the Xi’an plant toward Samsung’s V9 technology. Samsung has also introduced V10, a newer NAND technology with more than 400 layers. The company’s announcement describes V10 as a next-generation technology; it does not mean that V10 is being made at the Xi’an facility.
SK hynix plans Dalian upgrades
SK hynix is also upgrading equipment at its Dalian facility, which currently makes 192-layer NAND chips. Reuters reported that the company is looking to produce NAND with 240 layers or more at the site. Further work on technology above 300 layers would require additional approval, according to people cited in the report.
YMTC’s rise in China is not a global market takeover
The market-share figures refer to China, not the global NAND market. Counterpoint Research’s Q2 2026 global data still placed Samsung first by NAND revenue share, at 28%. Its shipment-share figures also showed Samsung first at 25%, followed by SK hynix at 22%; YMTC was third with 14%.
That distinction matters because market rankings can change depending on geography and measurement. A company can lead within China while another remains the global leader by revenue or shipments.
Export rules remain a factor
Samsung and SK hynix must navigate U.S. export controls when upgrading factories in China. Reuters reported that both companies were consulting with U.S. authorities, but it could not determine the full extent of approvals for equipment needed for the reported plans.
The upgrades therefore involve more than competing on chip layers: manufacturers must also manage regulatory limits and customer demand. For now, YMTC’s lead is in China’s NAND market, while Samsung’s planned Xi’an conversion aims to keep its manufacturing technology competitive there.