Could this be a way to ease tensions in the DRAM market a little?
Just a few years ago, Chinese DRAM chip manufacturers were content to offer only DDR3. At the same time, the industry’s three giants—the American company Micron and the South Korean firms Samsung and SK Hynix—seemed set to reign unchallenged, calling the shots on DDR4 and then DDR5. These three major companies have capitalized heavily on the artificial intelligence boom to drive their profits up almost exponentially—never mind that this has led to dramatic price hikes for consumers, who can no longer really afford RAM without breaking the bank.
Comparison of CXMT and Micron production volumes for the end of 2026 © TechPowerUp
Could salvation come from China and its leading DRAM chip manufacturers? While Beijing had pushed its domestic companies to focus on DDR5 at the risk of abandoning DDR4, the rise of companies like CXMT is now palpable. According to information compiled by TechPowerUp, CXMT is indeed on track to produce as many DRAM wafers as the American company Micron: Estimates suggest CXMT will be producing 350,000 wafers per month by the end of 2026, while Micron is expected to barely exceed 375,000 wafers. This marks a historically narrow gap between one of the “Big Three” and its challengers.
For now, CXMT distributes its products only in China and Taiwan, but the increased production of these national champions could potentially lead to expansion into other markets. A clear sign of these Chinese companies’ efficiency: CXMT is reportedly able to build new cleanrooms in just 12 months, whereas its competitors take between 12 and 24 months. To prevent CXMT from running away with the lead, the Chinese government is reportedly encouraging it to share its technological advancements with other Chinese DRAM manufacturers, such as JHICC, Swaysure, and XMC, a subsidiary of YTMC. The three major players had better watch out!
