Chinese breakthrough: YMTC ousts Micron and Kioxia, breaking into the top 3 global NAND memory manufacturers

Historical shift in the chipmaker hierarchy

The second quarter of 2026 marked an unprecedented event for the global semiconductor market: the Chinese company YMTC (Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp) officially rose to third place in terms of NAND memory shipments. According to fresh data from the analytics agency Counterpoint Research, published in August 2026, the Chinese giant managed to overtake such recognized industry leaders as SK Hynix and Micron, as well as the Japanese Kioxia. This result was made possible thanks to an aggressive market share capture strategy and technological production refinement, despite the continuing pressure from Western sanctions.

Growth dynamics and market indicators

YMTC's growth statistics look impressive even against the backdrop of general market volatility. By the end of the reporting period, the company demonstrated a 22% year-on-year increase in shipments and a 5% increase compared to the previous quarter. While the DRAM market remains strictly controlled by the "big three" (Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron), occupying more than 90% of the niche, the NAND memory segment proved more vulnerable to new players. Samsung's share in this sector is about 25%, SK Hynix holds second place with 22%, however, the distance to the "big three" is shrinking with every quarter.

Competition for third place

The battle for third place in the NAND memory manufacturers ranking has traditionally been the fiercest. Unlike the monopolized DRAM market, here the players' shares often overlap, and the difference between positions can be just a few percentage points. In the current quarter, YMTC managed to secure its position, overtaking Kioxia, which historically was one of the key players. Analysts note that the success of the Chinese company is linked not only to pricing policy but also to the implementation of its own Xtacking technology, which allows increasing memory cell density and reducing production costs.

Contradictory data

In the context of market share analysis, there are nuances that require attention. Some sources mention that YMTC overtook SK Hynix, taking the spot immediately behind Samsung, however, a more detailed analysis of Counterpoint data indicates that SK Hynix still holds the second position with a 22% share. The version that YMTC ousted Hynix from third place is an inaccurate interpretation: the company overtook Micron and Kioxia, becoming the third player, but it is still far from the second line of the rating. Furthermore, data on YMTC's exact market share varies: some sources cite 13%, others—only an approximation of this figure, which is related to the counting methodology (by revenue or by number of units sold).

Development prospects and geopolitical context

YMTC's success in 2026 demonstrates the ability of the Chinese semiconductor industry to adapt to external restrictions. Despite the fact that access to advanced lithography equipment remains limited, the company continues to expand capacity and improve its technological processes. Experts predict that in the coming years, the competition for leadership in the NAND memory segment will become even more acute, and the share of Chinese manufacturers will steadily grow, changing the global balance of power in the industry.