Overview
Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) and SK Hynix (KS:000660) have begun testing chip‑making equipment supplied by China’s Advanced Micro‑Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) at their fabrication facilities located in China, according to a Reuters report that cited people familiar with the matter.
The evaluations started roughly two years ago and are intended to give the South Korean memory‑chip makers a contingency option should future United States export restrictions curtail access not only to new Western‑origin chip‑making tools but also to servicing and replacement parts for equipment already installed in China.
The trials are not a commitment to large‑scale deployment of Chinese tools. The companies are merely keeping Chinese suppliers in reserve to sustain existing production rather than to expand capacity.
The move follows the United States’ semiconductor export‑control strategy, which designated Samsung’s and SK Hynix’s Chinese plants as “validated end users” in 2023, permitting them to import certain controlled U.S. equipment without individual licenses. That authorization was revoked in 2025 before the firms could obtain the annual licenses required for equipment imports in 2026.
Both firms expressed concern that any further restrictions could also affect maintenance and repair support for Western tools already operating in their Chinese fabs, prompting the current testing of AMEC equipment.
Market reaction showed SK Hynix shares gaining 4.9% and Samsung Electronics rising 2.5%, compared with an approximate 4% rise in the broader KOSPI index.
If AMEC eventually secures orders from Samsung or SK Hynix, it would constitute a strong commercial endorsement for China’s domestic chip‑equipment industry. However, broader adoption would still encounter obstacles such as lengthy qualification processes, smaller service networks, intellectual‑property concerns and potential political pressure from Washington.