On September 16, 2026, SK hynix and Intel were reported to be exploring U.S. memory-chip manufacturing, with Intel’s under-construction Ohio One site among the possible locations. The discussions could involve leasing part of the facility or forming a joint venture with Intel and major AI hyperscalers. SK hynix said it had made no decision, while Intel characterized the report as speculation and said it continued investing in Ohio.
What would be negotiated at Ohio One?
The reported proposal concerns a possible manufacturing arrangement, not a confirmed purchase of Intel’s Ohio facility. One option would have SK hynix lease part of Ohio One. Another would create a joint venture involving SK hynix, Intel and major AI cloud companies. No transaction structure, investment amount or participating hyperscaler has been identified.
Intel is developing Ohio One as part of its U.S. manufacturing expansion and is seeking outside customers for Intel Foundry. A relationship with SK hynix could therefore give Intel a major external customer while providing SK hynix with another potential U.S. production base.
SK hynix said it was reviewing measures that included additional production bases to strengthen its memory business, but added that no matters had been determined. The company’s direction is consistent with its June 2026 plan to double production capacity over the following five years. In July, SK Group chairperson Chey Tae-won also said that SK needed to build a factory in the United States if possible.
HBM is the context, not a confirmed Ohio output
High-bandwidth memory, or HBM, is a memory technology used in AI-chip supply chains. It helps processors handle large volumes of data, making it a strategically important component for AI accelerators. SK hynix is a leading HBM supplier, and demand from AI and data centers is driving its expansion plans.
The Ohio discussions concern U.S. memory-chip manufacturing, but the reported arrangement does not specify that Ohio would produce HBM. HBM explains why a U.S. manufacturing relationship matters to SK hynix, not what Ohio One would ultimately manufacture.
Intel said it continued investing in Ohio while describing the reported arrangement as speculation. The project’s reported online outlook is 2030–2031, but that timetable is associated with Intel’s Ohio project rather than a confirmed SK hynix production schedule.
Ohio and Indiana are separate U.S. projects
The possible Ohio arrangement is separate from SK hynix’s own Indiana facility. Indiana is associated with HBM advanced packaging and a future U.S. HBM base, while Ohio would potentially use Intel’s site through a lease, joint venture or another structure.
| Project | Site and relationship | Reported role |
| Possible Ohio arrangement | Intel’s Ohio One site, potentially involving a lease or joint venture | U.S. memory-chip manufacturing under an arrangement still being explored |
| Indiana project | SK hynix’s own U.S. facility | HBM advanced packaging and a future U.S. HBM base |
SK hynix broke ground on the Indiana facility in August 2026. Production there has been associated with a 2029 outlook. That project does not establish what technology, ownership structure or production schedule would apply to Ohio One.
Why the proposal matters to SK hynix and Intel
For SK hynix, a U.S. manufacturing base would support its broader capacity expansion as AI accelerators and data centers drive demand for advanced memory. For Intel, the potential relationship would fit its effort to attract major external customers to Intel Foundry and make use of its U.S. manufacturing infrastructure.
The proposal also sits inside a wider policy debate over semiconductor production. Three sources cited in reporting said the South Korean government could oppose U.S. production involving sensitive advanced memory such as HBM. The South Korean government has not announced a formal objection or decision on the proposal.
The immediate development is therefore a set of exploratory discussions around U.S. memory manufacturing, with Ohio One as a possible site and Indiana as a separate SK hynix expansion. Neither company has announced a completed arrangement.
