Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are testing manufacturing equipment from Chinese suppliers, a direct hedge against escalating U.S. export control risks as both companies work to secure operational continuity at their China fabrication plants.
The United States has tightened restrictions on advanced semiconductor equipment sales to China since October 2022, creating operational challenges for non-U.S. chipmakers running production facilities there. Samsung and SK Hynix, the world's two largest memory chip producers, are prioritizing output at those facilities, which handle mature node production.
The shift could accelerate a bifurcated global semiconductor supply chain, with separate ecosystems for advanced and mature node production. It also threatens the long-term market share of U.S. and European equipment suppliers in certain segments.
Formal decisions on integrating Chinese equipment into production lines are expected later this year, following qualification processes at both companies. Any U.S. government response could further shape trade policy and investment flows in the sector.
