Chinese memory manufacturer CXMT was the fastest-growing DRAM maker in the world during the second quarter, according to Counterpoint Research, with its DRAM revenue climbing 716% annually. Taiwan's Nanya Technology followed with 690% growth. Counterpoint attributed CXMT's surge to strong domestic demand in China and ongoing capacity expansion. In the broader market, Samsung reclaimed the top spot with 39% revenue share, while SK hynix's share fell 13 percentage points to 26% despite its revenue rising 214% annually; Micron's share reached 25%, putting it close to overtaking SK hynix.
Counterpoint's Vice President of Research, Neil Shah, said the growth trajectory raises the question of "when," not "if," CXMT will break into the industry's "Big Three" club currently occupied by Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron. Following its IPO earlier this year, CXMT has been aggressively pursuing expansion, including early-stage plans for a new manufacturing facility in Beijing. Its share price reportedly jumped 466% after its Shanghai listing, and the company has said most of its investment is directed toward DRAM process upgrades and capacity rather than the HBM chips used in AI data centers.
On the technology front, CXMT has reportedly entered risk production of LPDDR6 memory, reaching parity with Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron in manufacturing and technological development. Its LPDDR6 chips are said to run at speeds up to 12.8 Gbps, above the LPDDR6 base speed of 10.7 Gbps, with 16 Gb capacity in a package-on-package casing with roughly 1,295 pins. By comparison, SK hynix has announced LPDDR6 modules with the same 16 Gb capacity but higher speeds of up to 14.4 Gbps on its 1c node. Both companies' offerings fall within JEDEC's official LPDDR6 specification. CXMT is currently shipping chips to customers for validation ahead of full high-volume manufacturing.
Amid a persistent AI-driven global memory shortage, a Nikkei Asia report cited by Tom's Hardware claims PC makers HP, Asus, and Acer have begun using small amounts of CXMT chips in a limited number of notebook models intended for markets outside the United States. Sources said many major PC makers have completed qualification processes for CXMT DRAM. The cautious rollout reflects CXMT's inclusion on a Pentagon list citing ties to China's military, as well as PC makers' wariness of straining relationships with Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix; lawmakers in Washington are reportedly pushing to blacklist CXMT outright. Acer, the only company to respond to Nikkei's request for comment, did not deny using CXMT chips, saying it works with multiple global suppliers to manage component pricing.
Apple has reportedly lobbied the U.S. government for permission to buy CXMT chips due to broader market tightness, and Nikkei's report suggests demand exists for a fourth major memory supplier to help ease supply constraints. Motherboard maker Gigabyte has also announced support for CXMT components. However, one source cited by Nikkei said CXMT's pricing is not actually cheaper than the established three players, stating its DRAM is "definitely no cheaper than the likes of Samsung." This suggests PC makers turning to CXMT may be doing so to secure additional supply rather than to cut costs, amid a market where RAM prices have risen 400% or more over the past 12 months.