Chinese memory chip company ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has become the fastest-growing DRAM manufacturer in the world during the second quarter of 2026, according to a new report from Counterpoint Research.
The company recorded an incredible 716% increase in DRAM revenue compared to the same period last year. This huge growth was mainly driven by strong demand from customers in China and the company’s efforts to increase its production capacity.
Another company that performed well was Taiwan’s Nanya Technology, which reported a 690% increase in DRAM revenue during the same period. These results show that the global memory chip market is growing rapidly, especially because of increasing demand from artificial intelligence (AI), smartphones, and data centers.
Samsung Becomes the Largest DRAM Supplier Again
Despite CXMT’s rapid growth, Samsung has regained its position as the world’s largest DRAM supplier. During the second quarter of 2026, Samsung held 39% of the global DRAM market revenue, making it the top memory chip company once again.
SK Hynix ranked second with a 26% market share. Although its market share dropped by 13 percentage points compared to last year, the company still achieved 214% revenue growth, showing that demand for its memory chips remains strong.
Micron came in third with a 25% market share, only one percentage point behind SK Hynix. The close competition between these companies shows how important the DRAM market has become.
AI Is Driving Demand for Memory Chips
The rapid growth of the DRAM industry is largely being driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Modern AI processors require High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), which is created by stacking multiple DRAM chips together. This advanced memory helps AI systems process large amounts of data much faster.
As AI technologies continue to expand, demand for high-performance memory chips is expected to grow even more, creating new opportunities for companies like Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, and CXMT.
CXMT Is Expanding Quickly
CXMT has become one of the most important companies in China’s effort to reduce its dependence on foreign semiconductor technology. Similar to China’s leading chipmaker SMIC, CXMT is helping the country build its own advanced semiconductor industry.
The company is also working on LPDDR6 memory, the next generation of low-power memory designed for smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. Reports suggest that LPDDR6 development has already reached the research and testing stage, bringing the company closer to mass production.
Record IPO and New Factories
In July 2026, CXMT completed a massive $8.6 billion stock market listing (IPO), giving the company more funding to expand its business.
The company is now planning several new manufacturing projects. It is considering building a second memory chip factory in Beijing, while also expanding operations in Shanghai and Hefei.
If these projects move forward, CXMT’s production capacity could more than double, reaching over 600,000 wafers per month. This would make the company one of the world’s largest memory chip manufacturers.
Apple May Become a Customer
Reports also suggest that Apple has explored purchasing memory chips from CXMT. Global memory prices have been rising, and supplies remain limited, encouraging large technology companies to look for new suppliers to reduce costs and secure enough components for future products.
Although no official agreement has been announced, such a partnership would be a major achievement for CXMT.
Experts See a Big Future for CXMT
Counterpoint Research Vice President Neil Shah believes CXMT’s rapid growth could change the global memory industry. According to him, the biggest question is no longer whether CXMT can compete with industry leaders like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, but when it will join them as one of the world’s top DRAM manufacturers.
With strong government support, rapid factory expansion, and growing demand for AI and mobile memory, CXMT is expected to become an even bigger player in the global semiconductor market over the next few years.
