--- title: "Chinese breakthrough: YMTC ousts Micron and Kioxia, breaking into the top 3 global NAND memory manufacturers" description: "🚀 Chinese YMTC made a breakthrough in the chip market! By the end of Q2 2026, the company overtook Micron and Kioxia, taking 3rd place globally in NAND memory shipments. Growth was 22% year-on-year. Samsung and SK Hynix still hold the lead, but the Chinese giant is actively changing the balance of power. #YMTC #NAND #TechNews #ChinaTech" date: 2026-08-16T20:57:05.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/chinese-breakthrough-ymtc-breaks-into-top-3-global-nand-manufacturers tags: [ymtc, nand-flash, semiconductors, counterpoint, sk-hynix, micron, samsung, china-tech] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Chinese breakthrough: YMTC ousts Micron and Kioxia, breaking into the top 3 global NAND memory manufacturers ![Aerial view of YMTC's modern NAND memory factory in China, symbolizing the company's technological breakthrough and entry into the top 3 global NAND producers](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/17/ymtc-vorvalas-v-trojku-proizvoditelej-nand-pamyati-2026/ymtc-vorvalas-v-trojku-proizvoditelej-nand-pamyati-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - YMTC took 3rd place in the NAND memory market in Q2 2026, overtaking Micron and Kioxia. - YMTC's shipment growth was 22% year-on-year. - Samsung and SK Hynix maintain leadership with shares of 25% and 22% respectively. - The NAND market is more fragmented than the DRAM market, which allowed the Chinese player to break into the top. ### 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. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [YMTC in Big 3 for NAND units](https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/ymtc-in-big-3-for-nand-units-2026-08/) - Подтверждает выход YMTC в топ-3. - [Samsung held top market share spot for NAND during Q2; SK Hynix ranked second: Counterpoint](https://www.msn.com/en-us/technology/tech-companies/samsung-held-top-market-share-spot-for-nand-during-q2-sk-hynix-ranked-second-counterpoint/ar-AA29W8Rk) - Подтверждает позиции Samsung (1) и SK Hynix (2), что уточняет место YMTC (3). - [YMTC NAND market share climbs to 13% as global competition intensifies](https://technode.com/2026/06/22/ymtc-nand-market-share-climbs-to-13-as-global-competition-intensifies/) - Указывает на долю рынка около 13%. - [Chinese YMTC overtook Micron, Kioxia and Sandisk and broke into the top three largest NAND suppliers](https://3dnews.ru/1146698/kitayskaya-ymtc-obognala-micron-kioxia-i-sandisk-i-vorvalas-v-troyku-krupneyshih-postavshchikov-nand) - Подтверждает обгон Micron и Kioxia. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who took first place in the NAND memory market in Q2 2026? **A:** First place is held by the South Korean company Samsung with a market share of about 25%. ### Q: Who exactly did YMTC overtake to enter the top 3? **A:** YMTC overtook Micron and Kioxia, taking third place in the NAND memory suppliers ranking. ### Q: What growth did YMTC show over the year? **A:** According to analysts, the company grew by 22% year-on-year and by 5% quarterly.