Chinese memory makers YMTC and CXMT are expanding their market share as US export restrictions tighten. This shift is reshaping supply chains for global tech firms that rely on affordable DRAM and NAND flash.
Chinese chipmakers offer cheaper alternatives as Samsung raises memory prices by 100 percent
YMTC and CXMT dominate the domestic Chinese storage market with products priced around $150 per unit, roughly half the average cost of comparable Western chips. Samsung memory prices rose 30% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026 and doubled year-over-year in Q1 2026.
Apple is preparing to source NAND flash from YMTC for iPhones sold within China. The move aims to lower component costs and strengthen Apple’s negotiating position with Samsung, which recently imposed a 100% price hike on LPDDR5X chips costing $70 each.
Chinese chipmakers are leveraging cost advantages to capture market share previously held by South Korean and US firms. Their pricing strategies directly challenge the high-cost environment created by recent supply constraints.
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