By Hyunjoo Jin, Heekyong Yang and Karen Freifeld
SEOUL/NEW YORK, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Chipmaker SK Hynix's subsidiary Solidigm is considering building a NAND flash memory chip factory in the US, with upstate New York emerging as a leading candidate, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The move comes as the South Korean chipmaker faces growing pressure from the Trump administration to expand US manufacturing, with Washington pushing to reshore semiconductor production.
At the same time,
massive investment in AI data centres has fuelled a global shortage of memory chips.
The proposed project would be separate from SK Hynix's discussions with Intel to make memory chips at the US chipmaker's Ohio facility, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the matter is confidential.
A US plant would reduce Solidigm's reliance on its sole NAND production facility in the Chinese city of Dalian, while helping to shield it from potential U.S. tariffs and curbs on exports of chipmaking equipment to China.
However, no agreement had been reached as key details of the project remain under discussion, one source cautioned.
SK Hynix may move cautiously as making chips in the US is significantly more expensive than in South Korea, while Washington and Seoul continue talks over trade and investment matters.
SK Hynix said its "subsidiary Solidigm is reviewing various options to strengthen its business competitiveness, but no specific plans have been confirmed at this time."
U.S.-based Solidigm did not respond to a Reuters request for comment outside business hours.
(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin, Heekyong Yang in Soeul and Karen Freifield in New York; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Miyoung Kim and Clarence Fernandez)
