According to Counterpoint Research, YMTC achieved a 14% market share in NAND memory shipments during the second quarter, placing it third globally, behind Samsung and SK hynix. This is notable as NAND chips are crucial for data retention in devices, contributing to about one-fourth of Micron's revenue.
Despite its shipment success, YMTC still trails behind Micron and Kioxia in revenue from NAND chips, as it primarily serves consumer applications rather than the more lucrative data center market, which is projected to consume half of all NAND chips by 2026.
Counterpoint's Director MS Hwang emphasized the importance of YMTC's third-place ranking, suggesting that a 15% market share is necessary for memory manufacturers to sustain capital expenditures for growth. Additionally, YMTC is preparing for a public offering in mainland China, following the successful debut of CXMT, another Chinese memory chip company that holds a 7% share of the DRAM market.
The NAND and DRAM markets are experiencing record sales, with nearly $100 billion and $46 billion reported in the first quarter, respectively. In response to competitive pressures, SK hynix is resuming investments in its Dalian facility to enhance NAND production capabilities