SK hynix denies report of interest in Intel’s Ohio chip facilities
SK hynix has pushed back against claims that it is looking to buy Intel’s chip manufacturing facilities in Ohio, shutting down speculation that the Korean memory giant is preparing a major expansion into U.S.-based memory production.
The company issued a formal clarification after a Korean media report suggested that SK hynix was pursuing Intel’s Ohio site as part of a plan to strengthen its American manufacturing presence. The report claimed the move was driven by rising memory demand, pressure to expand supply chains in the United States, and the growing importance of advanced chips for artificial intelligence.
SK hynix, however, said the claim is not true. In a disclosure filed with the Korean stock exchange, the company stated that while it continues to review different investment and acquisition opportunities for business purposes, it has not decided to acquire Intel’s Ohio site or related fabrication facilities.
The company’s statement made clear that there are no ongoing plans to buy the Ohio facilities, directly refuting the report.
Speculation around a possible Intel and SK hynix deal gained attention because the two companies have already completed a major memory-related transaction in the past. In 2022, Intel sold its NAND memory and storage business to SK hynix in a deal valued at about $9 billion. That transaction included Intel’s NAND manufacturing operations in Dalian, China, and was part of Intel’s broader strategy to streamline its business and focus more heavily on its foundry ambitions.
Since then, the global memory market has changed dramatically. Demand for chips tied to artificial intelligence has surged, especially high-bandwidth memory used in AI accelerators and data center GPUs. This rapid growth has tightened supply across parts of the memory industry, while also increasing investor attention on companies with strong positions in advanced memory production.
SK hynix has become one of the most closely watched semiconductor companies because of its leadership in high-bandwidth memory, a key component in modern AI hardware. Its close role in the AI chip supply chain has made every potential expansion move a major topic for investors, analysts, and the broader technology industry.
The Ohio facility speculation also comes at a time when chipmakers are under pressure to diversify manufacturing locations and reduce dependence on Asia-based production. The United States has been pushing for more domestic semiconductor manufacturing, and major chip companies have announced large U.S. investments in recent years.
Still, SK hynix’s latest statement makes clear that Intel’s Ohio facilities are not part of any confirmed acquisition plan. The company may continue to explore global investment opportunities, but it says the reported deal with Intel is not happening.
For now, the denial brings an end to the latest round of rumors linking SK hynix to Intel’s U.S. manufacturing assets, even as the battle for memory chip leadership continues to heat up in the AI era.
