[Edaily Reporter Yang Ji-yun ] SK hynix rose 3% in pre-market trading on U.S. stock markets following reports that the company is considering a partnership with Intel to produce memory semiconductors in the U.S. SK hynix(000660)stated that while it is reviewing various measures to strengthen its global competitiveness, nothing has been finalized.

According to Yahoo Finance on the 16th (local time), SK hynix’s stock price rose 3% in pre-market trading that day. Rival companies Micron and SamsungElectronics(005930)also saw slight gains. Major semiconductor stocks, including NVIDIA, AMD, SanDisk, and Western Digital, also showed strength.

A Reuters report stating that SK hynix is discussing plans with Intel to produce silicon wafers for memory in the U.S. drove the stock price higher. If the partnership materializes, it would mark the first time SK hynix has produced memory wafers in the U.S.

Citing three sources familiar with the negotiations, Reuters reported that the two sides are considering two collaboration options.

Citing three sources familiar with the negotiations, Reuters reported that two options are being discussed: SK hynix could lease part of the semiconductor plant in Ohio that Intel has been building for several years, or the two companies could establish a joint venture involving major cloud service providers. However, Reuters identified the possibility of opposition from the South Korean government as a key variable in whether the negotiations succeed.

SK hynix issued a statement that day, saying, “We are reviewing various options to strengthen our global competitiveness, but there are currently no specific plans or agreements in place.” It added, “No decisions have been made regarding the two options mentioned in the report.”

The U.S. government is pushing to attract advanced semiconductor production facilities to the country to reduce its reliance on overseas supply chains concentrated in Taiwan and South Korea.

Among the world’s leading memory semiconductor companies, Micron is the only one that produces silicon wafers in the United States. While SK hynix and SamsungElectronics are investing in advanced packaging, research and development (R&D), and processor production in the U.S., they do not produce memory wafers locally.