In a bold move to circumvent crippling U.S. export restrictions, China’s Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp. (FYMTC) has completed development of an entirely homegrown NAND flash memory production line, industry insiders confirmed today. The breakthrough aims to end reliance on American semiconductor equipment and materials, positioning China’s largest memory chipmaker for an independent technological future.
U.S. sanctions imposed since late 2022 barred FYMTC from accessing advanced tools from American suppliers like Applied Materials and Lam Research, stalling its ambition to compete globally in high-density 3D NAND chips. The restrictions also derailed partnerships with Apple and other Western tech firms, forcing the Wuhan-based company into a race for self-sufficiency.
The new production line—reportedly designed without U.S. components—leverages FYMTC’s proprietary Xtacking 3.0 architecture, which vertically stacks memory cells to boost storage density. Crucially, it integrates etching and deposition tools from Chinese manufacturers like Naura and AMEC, alongside domestic silicon wafers and chemical precursors. A Digitimes report reveals that pilot production began last month, with mass production slated for late 2026:
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20250721PD205/ymtc-memory-nand-3d-stacking-2026.html
"FYMTC’s fully localized line is a strategic necessity, not just innovation," said Li Wei, a semiconductor analyst at TechInsights. "It signals that China’s chip sector can no longer wait for geopolitical tensions to ease." Though the domestic tools lag behind cutting-edge international counterparts in precision, they reportedly achieve viable yields for 176-layer NAND chips—a milestone for China’s supply chain.
The project received undisclosed state funding under Beijing’s "Big Fund" initiative, accelerating equipment certification and factory retooling. Sources note FYMTC engineers collaborated with Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE) to adapt lithography systems for NAND-specific processes, sidestepping Dutch firm ASML’s EUV technology embargo.
If scaled successfully, FYMTC could disrupt a NAND market dominated by Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—especially in price-sensitive sectors like consumer electronics and servers. "This isn’t about beating rivals on performance yet," cautioned a supply chain director speaking anonymously. "It’s about ensuring Chinese clients have a sanctions-proof option, even at lower specs."
Global implications loom large. The White House is reviewing tighter export controls, while Chinese tech giants like Lenovo and Xiaomi reportedly tested FYMTC’s new samples. As one FYMTC technician put it: "We’re rebuilding the wheel, but it’s our wheel now."
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