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SK Hynix Plans US Listing to Fund AI Expansion

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SK Hynix said it plans a confidential filing for a U.S. stock market listing in the second half of 2026, a move that could raise up to $14 billion and become one of the largest offerings in recent years.

The South Korean chipmaker said it aims to complete the listing within 2026, though the final size, structure and timing have not yet been determined. A source familiar with the discussions said the company may sell around 2% to 3% of its shares, using the proceeds to help finance new chip plants in Yongin, South Korea, and Indiana in the United States.

The plan comes as SK Hynix continues to expand production to meet strong demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence data centers. The company is one of the world’s biggest memory chipmakers and has been increasing investment as AI infrastructure spending rises globally.

Management has also framed the U.S. listing as a way to achieve a better market valuation by being compared more directly with American semiconductor peers. Analysts say such a move could highlight SK Hynix’s profitability and technological strengths more clearly for global investors.

At the same time, the plan has drawn criticism from some shareholder advocates, who argue that issuing new shares could dilute existing investors. They have instead called for buybacks and alternative listing structures that would preserve shareholder value while still supporting a U.S. market debut.

SK Hynix Places $8B Order for ASML Chip Tools

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SK Hynix has announced a major purchase of chipmaking equipment from ASML, committing nearly $8 billion in what is the largest publicly disclosed order for the Dutch supplier’s lithography systems.

The deal covers extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines, which are critical for producing advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. The equipment will be delivered by the end of 2027 and is expected to support the company’s next-generation production capacity.

Analysts say the tools will be deployed across SK Hynix’s upcoming Yongin facility as well as its M15X plant in Cheongju, both of which are key to scaling production of high-bandwidth memory and advanced DRAM chips.

The investment reflects strong demand for AI-related semiconductors, where memory chips play a central role. It also signals SK Hynix’s effort to secure manufacturing capacity ahead of competitors in a tightening supply environment.

The order highlights the growing importance of EUV technology in enabling smaller, faster and more efficient chips, as the semiconductor industry continues to evolve around AI-driven workloads.

U.S. Grants TSMC Annual Licence to Import Chipmaking Tools into China

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The U.S. government has granted an annual licence to TSMC allowing it to import U.S.-made chip manufacturing equipment into its facilities in Nanjing, China, the company said on Thursday.

In a statement to Reuters, TSMC said the approval would “ensure uninterrupted fab operations and product deliveries.” The licence allows U.S. export-controlled equipment to be supplied to TSMC’s Nanjing operations without the need for individual vendor approvals.

South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have also received similar licences, according to industry sources. The move comes after earlier exemptions granted to Asian chipmakers under Washington’s export controls expired at the end of December.

Previously, companies such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix had benefited from a special status known as “validated end-user,” which allowed them to continue shipping certain U.S. chip-related equipment to China despite broad restrictions aimed at limiting Beijing’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies. That status expired on December 31, forcing companies to apply for individual export licences for 2026.

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TSMC clarified that the licence applies specifically to its Nanjing plant, which manufactures 16-nanometre and other mature-node chips rather than the company’s most advanced semiconductors. The Taiwanese chipmaker also operates a fabrication plant in Shanghai, but has not disclosed whether similar arrangements apply there.

According to TSMC’s 2024 annual report, the Nanjing facility accounted for about 2.4% of the company’s total revenue, highlighting its relatively modest but still strategically important role in TSMC’s global manufacturing network.

The decision underscores Washington’s attempt to balance strict controls on cutting-edge semiconductor technology with limited flexibility for mature-node production that supports global supply chains, even as geopolitical and technological competition with China continues to intensify.