SK hynix will build a new M15X factory in Cheongju

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SK hynix announced that it will build a new semiconductor factory M15X in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, to lay a foundation for future development. SK hynix said that this was a decision after comprehensive consideration of the market and other conditions. Construction will start in October this year and the goal is to complete it in early 2025.

SK Hynix DDR5 DRAM

Image: skhynix

M15X is located in the industrial park of Cheongju Technopolis industrial complex, covering an area of ​​about 60,000 square meters. SK hynix plans to invest 15 trillion won in five years. The fab will be a two-story building equivalent to a combination of M11 and M12 in size. SK hynix has also planned the M17 factory nearby and will decide the start time according to factors such as semiconductor market conditions.

“Looking back on the past 10 years, SK hynix could grow into a global company as it boldly carried out investment during crisis,” said Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Park Jung-ho. “As we look to prepare for the next 10 years now, I believe starting the M15X will be a first step to lay foundation for a solid future growth.”

In 2012, under the trend of reducing investment in the semiconductor industry, SK hynix increased its investment by more than 10% in a state of loss, and finally turned losses into profits at the end of the year. In 2015, SK hynix decided to invest in the construction of the Icheon M14 factory in order to cope with the upcoming boom in memory semiconductors despite the opaque market. After two years of operation in 2017, its performance hit a new high. In SK hynix’s view, pre-emptive investment can strengthen competitiveness in the face of drastic changes in the business environment.

In 2015, SK hynix announced a 10-year investment in a plan centered on Future Vision. In addition to the Icheon M14 plant, the Cheongju M15 and Icheon M16 plants were subsequently added. Although the recent global economic downturn, unstable supply chain, and sharp decline in market demand, SK hynix believes that the change cycle of the memory semiconductor market has a tendency to shorten, and the market will begin to recover in 2024 and gradually increase in 2025. The M15X factory was built to cope with the expansion in advance, and SK hynix hopes it will play an important role.

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