SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - SK hynix said Wednesday it continues to bring U.S.-made semiconductor manufacturing equipment into its plant in Dalian, China, under an existing export license, while negotiations for next year's authorization remain underway.
The South Korean chipmaker added no specific plans had been finalized for new semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the United States, despite a Reuters report linking the export restrictions to a potential multibillion-dollar investment in New York.
"We currently have a valid license and are bringing in equipment with approval from the U.S. government," an SK hynix official told AJP, explaining that export authorizations are negotiated and renewed annually.
"Negotiations for next year's license are underway as part of the usual process," the official added.
Reuters reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter, that the U.S. Commerce Department had yet to approve export licenses for additional American chipmaking equipment sought by SK hynix to expand production at its Dalian facility.
According to the report, executives from Solidigm, SK hynix's U.S.-based NAND flash memory subsidiary, have held nearly 10 meetings with Commerce Department officials since late August to discuss the matter.
U.S. officials have maintained restrictions on equipment shipments that could expand semiconductor production capacity or upgrade manufacturing technology in China, Reuters said. The department has not formally rejected the company's application for additional equipment, while separate discussions over licenses needed to maintain operations in 2027 are continuing.
SK hynix's explanation that equipment shipments remain authorized under an existing license does not directly address whether Washington has delayed approval of separate requests for capacity expansion.
The dispute has also raised questions about the company's potential investment in the United States.
Reuters reported that Solidigm was considering an investment of approximately $45 billion to build two NAND flash memory plants in Marcy, New York, with the total potentially reaching $100 billion over time.
The report said SK hynix was seeking to increase production at its Chinese facility to generate revenue that could help finance the proposed U.S. expansion.
SK hynix, however, said no concrete investment plans had been finalized.
"We recognize the need to build a semiconductor fabrication facility in the United States and are reviewing the possibility, but nothing specific has been decided," the official said.
The company did not confirm the reported investment amount or the proposed New York facilities.
The issue highlights the competing priorities facing the Trump administration as it seeks to attract semiconductor manufacturing investment to the United States while maintaining export controls designed to restrict China's access to advanced chipmaking technology.
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