Apple Inc is testing memory chips produced by Chinese state-backed ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) for devices sold in China, signalling growing confidence in the country’s expanding semiconductor capabilities despite continuing United States technology restrictions, according to a report by the Financial Times.
‎Citing people familiar with the matter, the newspaper reported that Apple is also among the leading US technology companies lobbying Washington to permit broader use of CXMT’s memory products. However, the iPhone maker has yet to decide whether it will adopt the chips for commercial production.
‎‎The development represents a significant milestone for CXMT, which has grown from a heavily subsidised domestic manufacturer into the world’s fourth-largest producer of DRAM memory chips, behind Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Micron Technology.
‎‎The report said CXMT accounted for approximately 11 per cent of global DRAM wafer production capacity last year. That figure is projected to rise to 15 per cent by 2028 as the company expands manufacturing through new production facilities in Hefei, Shanghai and Beijing.
‎‎Industry analysts say the rapid growth of China’s memory chip industry is beginning to raise concerns among established competitors. Sustained government support, they argue, could enable Chinese manufacturers to replicate the large-scale capacity expansion witnessed in sectors such as electric vehicles and solar panels, potentially driving down global memory chip prices.
‎‎Meanwhile, CXMT is preparing for a domestic initial public offering that analysts estimate could value the company at up to 3 trillion yuan.
‎‎The company intends to use the proceeds to increase manufacturing capacity, develop next-generation DRAM technologies and accelerate its expansion into high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a key component used in artificial intelligence accelerators.
‎‎Apple has not publicly commented on the reported testing programme or any potential commercial partnership with CXMT.
