Apple Inc. is conducting tests of off‑the‑shelf dynamic random‑access memory (DRAM) chips supplied by China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies Co., Ltd. (CXMT) for integration across several product lines, including iPhones and MacBooks, as a measure to alleviate a global supply shortage driven by heightened AI demand. Preliminary discussions have been held with CXMT about the possibility of the Chinese firm becoming a supplier, but Apple is awaiting clearance from the White House because U.S. export‑control regulations prohibit the sharing of technical specifications that would enable custom chip designs. Under the current rules, Apple may only purchase standard, off‑the‑shelf CXMT components and negotiate pricing, as confirmed by Kevin Wolf, a lawyer at Akin Gump who advises on export controls.
CXMT, which recently listed its shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and is now mainland China’s most valuable listed company, has already reached its production capacity for the current year, leaving little room to accommodate new international customers. Consequently, Apple can expect only limited volumes, a situation mirrored by other OEMs such as HP Inc. and Acer Inc., which have secured modest supplies for the remainder of the year and are seeking larger allocations for the following year.
Pricing for CXMT’s DRAM chips is reported to be in line with, and at times above, comparable offerings from Micron Technology, SK Hynix, and Samsung Electronics. This pricing pattern is attributed to tight overall supply and higher production costs relative to its foreign rivals. The surge in memory‑chip prices has already begun to weigh on shipments of PCs and smartphones globally.
CXMT’s second‑quarter revenue grew more than eight‑fold year‑over‑year, driven by strong demand, capacity expansion, and price increases, making it the world’s fastest‑growing DRAM supplier. The Pentagon has placed CXMT on a list of companies with alleged ties to China’s military, prompting concerns among U.S. policymakers that large orders from major American firms could provide CXMT with U.S. expertise and capital that might enhance its technological capabilities, potentially benefiting China’s defense sector and eroding the market position of U.S. chipmaker Micron.
Overall, Apple’s exploration of CXMT chips reflects an effort to diversify its memory‑chip supply base amid AI‑induced demand spikes, while navigating U.S. export‑control constraints and the limited production capacity of its prospective Chinese supplier.