# Solidigm reportedly plans $45B US flash plant, seeks export approval for Chinese upgrades

Digest AI · Business & Funding · published 2026-10-28T13:01:21Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/solidigm-reportedly-plans-45b-us-flash-plant-seeks-export-approval-for

## Summary

Solidigm, an American unit of SK hynix, is reportedly in talks with the U.S. Commerce Department about a $45 billion investment to build a new flash‑memory plant in the United States. Bloomberg reports the company also wants permission to export equipment that would upgrade its existing plant in Dalian, China, and claims the upgrades could help finance the U.S. project.

The proposal comes amid U.S. efforts to boost domestic chip manufacturing for computers and data‑center use, citing national‑security concerns. Export restrictions on high‑end AI data‑center components have already led to a black market for sanctioned technology, with reports of Nvidia Blackwell Ultra B300 GPUs and $1 billion worth of AI chips smuggled into China. Solidigm’s plan would allow its Chinese factory to contribute funds to the U.S. plant, but the Commerce Department has not yet indicated whether it will approve the export of the necessary machinery.

The move follows SK hynix’s decision to cancel a planned Solidigm IPO earlier this week, a decision linked to volatility in global NAND production. Solidigm recently reported $75 billion in revenue, $60 billion in operating profit, and $28 billion in net income, while warning that memory shortages could last through 2030.

## Key points

- Solidigm seeks $45B U.S. plant and export approval for Chinese upgrades
- U.S. Commerce Department has not yet confirmed the deal
- Solidigm’s U.S. investment could total $100B with construction in New York in 2027

## Why it matters

The proposal highlights tensions between U.S. national‑security priorities and global supply‑chain dynamics for AI‑related hardware, potentially reshaping where and how flash memory for data centers is produced.

## Sources

1. [SK hynix-owned Solidigm is plotting a new $45 billion flash memory factory for the US, report claims](https://tomshardware.com/tech-industry/manufacturing/sk-hynix-owned-solidigm-is-plotting-a-new-usd45-billion-flash-memory-factory-for-the-us-report-claims-wants-go-ahead-to-export-equipment-for-china-upgrades-in-return) (Tom's Hardware, 2026-10-28)

Part of the developing story: [AI Chip Upgrade Race Across Borders](https://digestai.news/thread/samsung-and-sk-hynix-reportedly-upgrade-chinese-factories-for-ai-ram-chips) (2 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Solidigm reportedly plans $45B US flash plant, seeks export approval for Chinese upgrades", 28 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/solidigm-reportedly-plans-45b-us-flash-plant-seeks-export-approval-for

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