Yangtze Memory (YMTC), China's representative NAND flash maker, is expected to ramp up shipments of high‑stack NAND from the ultra‑modern Wuhan Line 3 starting in the second half of this year, after stabilizing its existing two production lines. Observers say the company is also making smooth progress in securing large overseas customers, an area that had faced difficulties. YMTC's NAND output this year is expected to overtake SK hynix and Micron, which are vying for third and fourth place in the industry.
According to industry sources on the 2nd, YMTC plans to begin full‑scale mass production of cutting‑edge NAND products at Wuhan Line 3 in Hubei province, China, starting in the second half of this year. A source familiar with local conditions in China said, "Wuhan Lines 1 and 2 are already known to be near maximum capacity, and the newest Line 3 is currently in the final stages of setting up key equipment for full‑scale mass production."
YMTC has rapidly expanded its presence in the global NAND market over the past two years. Wuhan Line 2, which began operating in 2024, is said to have reached maximum capacity in just two years. The line is currently producing an average of 60,000 wafers per month, while the largest facility, Line 1, is mass‑producing 100,000. Annual output also increased from 1.29 million wafers in 2024 to 1.77 million last year, and is expected to approach 2 million this year.
Once the Wuhan Line 3 plant goes into full operation, YMTC is expected to overtake SK hynix and Micron to rank third in the global NAND market by shipments. It would emerge as the manufacturer producing the most NAND after Kioxia of Japan (4.82 million) and Samsung Electronics (4.68 million). In particular, YMTC is steadily increasing the share of 200‑layer products—high‑complexity devices—in servers and mobile, not just legacy NAND, and its 300‑layer product Production yield is also expected to stabilize this year.
YMTC's revenue portfolio, which had long been undervalued for being focused on China's domestic market, is also likely to change starting this year. According to Reuters and others, Apple is reportedly considering using YMTC products due to NAND supply issues. Apple is concerned about declining margins for key product lines such as the iPhone due to rising DRAM and NAND prices, and has begun to consider YMTC as an alternative, the report said.
A supply contract with Apple remains uncertain, but if a deal is reached, the prevailing view is that it would unblock YMTC's "clogged artery." Apple is not just another sales channel; it is a customer whose significance lies in having passed evaluations for quality, reliability and supply stability. If Apple supply is confirmed, other big tech companies suffering from NAND shortages could also consider YMTC as an alternative.
A semiconductor industry source said, "If YMTC supplies NAND to Apple, it would symbolically mark a reentry from a China‑centric customer base into the supply chain of global top‑tier set makers," adding, "Given that Apple has procured NAND from Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Kioxia, YMTC's market position would clearly change."