Memory Chip Crunch Persists Despite Production Increases

Micron on Saturday said it aimed to meet global memory chip demand via its US$1.8 billion acquisition of a fabrication facility from Taiwanese firm Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, which is expected to close in the second quarter. This would enable “Micron to increase production and better serve our customers in a market where demand continues to outpace supply”, said Manish Bhatia, executive vice-president of global operations at Boise, Idaho-based Micron. Mass production of advanced dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips at the site is expected by 2027. The first phase of its operation is estimated to contribute over 10 per cent of Micron’s total global capacity relative to 2026 fourth-quarter levels, according to Taipei-based research firm TrendForce.