CXMT Begins Mass Production Using Fifth-Generation DRAM Process... Accelerating Catch-Up With South Korean Rivals

[Financial News] China's ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), which is challenging the global DRAM semiconductor market led by Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Micron Technology, has begun mass production using its fifth-generation DRAM process.
According to British media on the 20th, CXMT's fifth-generation platform is designed to produce high-performance memory semiconductors at lower cost and with lower power consumption. CXMT explained, "This platform could become an additional source of chips used in smartphones and other devices," adding, "We reduced the spacing between key structures in the memory array that stores data on a chip to about 11.95 nm." The platform reportedly applies quadruple patterning (QTP), a technology that repeats various manufacturing steps to create finer circuit patterns.
Along with announcing mass production of its fifth-generation platform, CXMT unveiled two new 24Gb LPDDR5X products manufactured using the platform. LPDDR5X is a low-power DRAM mainly used in smartphones and other portable electronic devices. These products can store 50% more data than CXMT's existing products.
As China's largest DRAM producer, CXMT rose to the top of mainland China's stock market by market capitalization shortly after its initial public offering (IPO) in July. It also recently officially announced mass production of LPDDR6, a next-generation mobile DRAM.
The latest development comes as the Chinese government continues its efforts to reduce the country's reliance on overseas semiconductors. Since 2022, the United States has used export controls to restrict China's access to some advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment and software.
Against this backdrop, British media assessed, "CXMT's technological progress could help China foster a strong competitor capable of taking on the established global DRAM leaders."
[email protected] Hong Chae-wan Reporter