Emerging Memory Supplier YMTC to Challenge Global Leaders such as Samsung, SK Hynix & Western Digital in Next Five Years
Figure 1: Global Smartphone Sales by NAND Flash Storage Share % by Capacity
Source: Counterpoint Research - Global Smartphone Memory Capacity Tracker, May 2019
UNIC Memory Technology, a subsidiary of Unigroup, recently launched two consumer-grade SSD which used NAND chips (Intel) and controller from a third party (Phison). The technology of NAND flash chips will determine the production cost. However, the quality of the NAND flash controller is also critical and will determine the performance of the SSD. The controller can be either designed in-house or by a third party. Currently, all the leading NAND flash vendors have in-house control chips to reduce the time-to-market and provide tailored controllers for cutting-edge NAND flash chips. However, NAND flash vendors also leverage controllers from third parties for cost reduction. There are many good IC design houses in China. Therefore, the proportion of in-house design will increase for YMTC as its NAND production technology matures.
Unlike client-SSDs, the challenge to produce embedded storage for mobile phones is much higher. This is because the internal space of the mobile phone is much less, and the demand for branding in mobile phones is even higher. The good news is that YMTC can leverage its domestic market in some entry-level applications, such as SD Card, USB driver, and even some mid-to-low-end mobile phones.
We expect to see competitive technology offerings from YMTC in 2021 and a fully built up ecosystem and capacity in early 2022. These capacities will have a meaningful impact on the NAND flash market in 2023. Through 2023, other NAND vendors will inevitably have to cut prices to reduce the impact of Chinese memory supply ecosystem.Receive our insightful weekly newsletter and stay ahead of the competition.
Author
Brady Wang
Hi, I’m Brady Wang, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the high-tech industry, spanning semiconductor manufacturing, market intelligence, and strategic advisory roles. Currently, I serve as an analyst at Counterpoint Research, where I specialize in semiconductors with a focus on advanced applications such as automotive, server platforms, and cutting-edge process nodes. My core research centers on AI servers and their key components, including GPUs, custom accelerators, high-bandwidth memory (HBM), CPUs, and advanced packaging technologies. I also track the evolution of AI server architectures, interconnect technologies, and data center deployment trends. By combining deep technical knowledge with market insight, I help clients navigate the fast-changing AI infrastructure landscape and make strategic, data-driven decisions.