[Exclusive] SK hynix Begins Groundwork on Japan Fab
SK hynix has begun construction work for a memory semiconductor fab in Japan, just one month after the company said "nothing has been decided."
According to industry sources on the 28th, SK hynix has reportedly started groundwork for a semiconductor fab in Japan's Tohoku region. "It's unclear whether it will be a standalone fab or a joint venture with Kioxia, but it's true that foundation work is underway on site," an industry source said. "It shows how strongly SK hynix wants to enter the Japanese market."
The source added, "SK hynix has recently been asking domestic component suppliers to expand supply volumes. It's a sign the company is moving aggressively to respond to the memory supply shortage."
As recently as a month ago, SK hynix said a memory fab in Japan was "under review" and that "nothing specific has been decided." If true, the company moved at remarkable speed, beginning site preparation within a single month.
The Tohoku region is a major cluster for Japan's semiconductor and electronic components industries, with Iwate Prefecture at its core. Iwate hosts the Kitakami fab of Kioxia, a leading NAND flash maker, along with Japan Semiconductor, which makes microcontrollers (MCUs) and power MOSFETs, and Amkor Technology, which handles back end processing. Auto parts maker Denso and global chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron also have operations there. Adding the SK hynix memory fab now under construction would give the region a memory ecosystem spanning front end to back end processes.
This is also why Tohoku emerged as a leading candidate after SK Group Chairman Chey Tae Won said in August that the group was considering a joint memory fab in Japan. At the time, Chey said SK was "considering anywhere with abundant power and water," which further raised the odds of a move into Tohoku. Iwate in particular is known for excellent water infrastructure, given the concentration of semiconductor companies there.
If SK hynix builds a fab in Tohoku, Japan will complete a semiconductor triangle alongside TSMC in Kyushu and homegrown foundry Rapidus in Hokkaido, effectively linking the entire country through the semiconductor industry.
Meanwhile, SK hynix maintains that nothing has been decided yet. "The Japan memory fab is currently under review," a company official said. "Nothing has progressed beyond that."
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