Kioxia is reportedly actively investing in facilities centered on its latest 8th-generation NAND.

Initially, Kioxia planned to begin facility investments in January this year to fill the last vacant space in the Yokkaichi ‘Y7’ fab. However, it has been identified that related orders to suppliers had already started in Q4 of last year. The scale of the investment is estimated at a monthly capacity of 15,000 wafers.

Investments in the Kitakami ‘K2’ fab were also originally scheduled for Q1 of this year, but some equipment orders began late last year. Steady investments are expected to continue throughout this year to secure a total production capacity of 25,000 wafers by year-end.

From the second half of this year, investments in 10th-generation NAND are also anticipated. The 10th generation (estimated at 400 layers) surpasses the currently commercialized latest-generation NAND, the 9th generation. Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are also expected to start mass production of 10th-generation NAND as early as the second half of this year.

An industry source quoted in the media stated, “They seem to have significant confidence in their next-generation NAND technology.”