China's CXMT planning second 12-inch DRAM fab in Beijing; HP, Asus, Acer confirmed adopting CXMT memory in notebooks for non-US markets.
China's DRAM maker CXMT is considering a major capacity expansion with plans to build a second 12-inch DRAM fab in Beijing. According to Reuters, the company is seeking at least RMB 60 million (US$8.9 million) in funding from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area's governing body, along with support from state-owned technology companies. The discussions remain in early stages, with the size and structure of any funding package still subject to change.
CXMT currently operates three 12-inch DRAM fabs—two in Hefei and one in Beijing—with combined capacity of approximately 300,000 wafers per month. The company is simultaneously building new fabs in Shanghai and Hefei while negotiating with local authorities on an additional facility. These projects could collectively raise capacity to over 600,000 wafers per month, more than doubling current levels. TechPowerUp projects CXMT will end 2026 with approximately 350,000 wafers per month of DRAM output, positioning the company just behind Micron's projected 375,000 wafers per month.
The proposed 12-inch fab would be located in Yizhuang, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of central Beijing, where CXMT already operates a DRAM facility. The Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area is a key Chinese semiconductor hub, home to contract chipmaker SMIC, chip equipment maker Naura, and Xiaomi. Leading-edge DRAM fabs typically cost more than US$10 billion to construct.
The discussions began before CXMT's stock market debut, which provided fresh capital to fund its expansion. Meanwhile, PC makers including HP, Asus, and Acer have begun using limited volumes of CXMT's DRAM in notebooks, capitalizing on an unprecedented memory shortage driven by AI infrastructure demand. Most major PC makers completed qualification of CXMT's DRAM around mid-2026, enabling adoption, though shipment volumes and the number of models using CXMT chips remain limited. The company is reportedly prioritizing significant production capacity for Chinese customers such as Huawei.
CXMT prices its DRAM on par with leading suppliers like Samsung rather than offering discounts. Strong demand has made supplies difficult to secure beyond the current quarter. According to TrendForce, CXMT ranked fourth among DRAM suppliers by revenue in first-quarter 2026 with a 7.6% market share, trailing Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron, which collectively held 89.7% of the global market.
CXMT is transitioning to its latest G4 process node, significantly improving product quality and manufacturing output. While the company has secured design wins with a limited number of international customers, its shipments remain heavily concentrated in the Chinese domestic market. As China accelerates efforts to build a self-sufficient AI supply chain, CXMT has become an increasingly strategic supplier. Weak smartphone demand has prompted the company to reduce mobile DRAM's share of its product portfolio, with TrendForce expecting server DRAM to eventually become CXMT's largest segment.