South Korean semiconductor manufacturer SK Hynix announced today that it will spend US$9 billion to buy Intel’s NAND memory chip business, challenging Samsung’s continued dominance.

SK Hynix stated in the regulatory documents that it would spend 10.3 trillion won (approximately US$9 billion) to acquire Intel’s “all NAND businesses except for the memory technology Optane business”, including Intel’s factory in Dalian, China.

According to data from the research institute TrendForce, the transaction will enable SK Hynix to surpass the Japanese semiconductor giants Kioxia Corporation (formerly Toshiba Memory Holdings) and Western Digital. , With a market share of 23.3%, it has become the second brother in the global NAND memory market

The Vice President of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (Ahn Ki-hyun) said that this acquisition will strengthen SK Hynix’s NAND business and consolidate its second largest position in the global semiconductor industry.

An Ki-hyun said: “In the long run, this transaction will make SK Hynix more competitive and pave the way for challenging Samsung Electronics’ leading position.”