US NAND fab evaluation and strategic rationale

December 2, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — Kioxia and SanDisk are evaluating the construction of a joint NAND wafer fabrication plant in the United States, according to reports cited by several Japanese outlets. The proposed project may receive backing from both the Japanese and US governments, potentially through a public–private partnership model.

The two companies currently operate their main NAND facilities in Japan, including plants in Yokkaichi and Kitakami. With global NAND supply still heavily concentrated in East Asia, a US-based fab would broaden geographic distribution and bolster long-term supply-chain resilience.

Industry analysts cite multiple drivers behind the evaluation: accelerating demand from AI servers and data-center infrastructure, geopolitical pressure to localize semiconductor manufacturing, and strategic efforts to secure upstream materials. Market studies also show persistent tightness in NAND Flash supply, prompting both governments to consider deeper cooperation in advanced memory production.

Timeline and supply-chain impact

Despite the growing momentum, the project remains at an assessment stage. Even if approved, site selection, construction, equipment installation and ramp-up could take two to three years or longer. As a result, analysts expect limited near-term impact on the current supply imbalance.