As of Nov. 4, 2026, SK hynix said it had no specific U.S. fab investment plan and that approved equipment shipments to its Dalian plant in China continued under an existing license. Reuters reported on Nov. 4 that the U.S. Department of Commerce had not approved a separate request for additional Dalian equipment, but had not formally denied it.
What Solidigm’s reported U.S. proposal involved
Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Solidigm, SK hynix’s U.S. subsidiary, was considering two NAND plants in Marcy, New York. NAND is nonvolatile flash memory, which retains stored data without power. The reported initial investment was about $45 billion, with a possible total near $100 billion over time.
Solidigm said it was exploring possible fab locations worldwide and had made no decision on a specific course of action. Reuters also reported that Solidigm linked the possible U.S. project to U.S. approval for additional U.S.-made equipment at Dalian, where higher output was expected to help fund the U.S. build-out.
The existing Dalian license and the additional request
On Nov. 4, SK hynix said its existing license was valid, approved equipment shipments were continuing, and talks over the following year’s license were underway. That authorization was separate from the request for additional equipment. Reuters reported that a separate license for 2027 equipment to maintain the Dalian facility was also under discussion.
Why the additional equipment is disputed
SK hynix’s position was that installing equipment in a cleanroom built in 2023 would fill existing space rather than expand capacity. U.S. officials reportedly viewed the request as an upgrade or capacity expansion.
