SK Hynix scouts global locations for new facilities as AI memory demand surges

SK Hynix, the company that makes the memory chips powering most of the world’s AI infrastructure, is running out of room to build them. CEO Kwak Noh-Jung says the company is actively exploring global locations for new business opportunities, driven by a simple problem: demand for high-bandwidth memory is growing faster than the company can expand its existing facilities. The South Korean chipmaker currently commands 56.4% of the HBM market revenue share as of Q1 2026, making it the dominant supplier of the memory technology that companies like Nvidia rely on for their AI accelerators. A multi-continent buildout On August 27, 2026, the company broke ground on a $4 billion advanced packaging facility in West Lafayette, Indiana. The site represents SK Hynix’s first major US investment focused on HBM production, with cleanroom operations targeted for October 2028 and mass production slated for the second half of 2029. The CEO’s criteria for new sites include stable power, abundant water, available land, and a supportive ecosystem. Beyond the US, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has flagged Japan as another potential location for semiconductor investments, specifically Miyagi Prefecture. ...