Apple supplier SK Hynix allegedly wants to start producing memory on U.S. soil, and it's asking for help from Intel to make it happen.

The global memory crisis is causing companies to pay high prices for the chips, while producers make plans to expand production. The situation may result in the unusual move by SK Hynix to bring RAM manufacturing to an entirely new continent.

According to sources of Reuters on September 16, SK Hynix is in talks with processor maker Intel over plans to make memory in the United States.

The sources say that SK Hynix could potentially lease a section of Intel's planned Ohio facility. There's also the prospect of SK Hynix creating a joint venture with Intel and AI companies that are consuming memory supplies on future production.

The talks are described as exploratory in nature, and no plans have been set in stone. Other deal structures are also being planned.

While the prospect of more memory production sounds great under the current economic climate, any agreement with Intel about its Ohio production won't be immediately helpful. Nor will it be for years.

Intel floated the plan to build the $20 billion facility in 2022, and originally intended to open the first by 2025. However, they are now planned to be completed between 2030 and 2032.

SK Hynix's own plans to massively expand its memory production locally also won't help anytime soon. Announced in August 2026, the $38.3 billion effort will make two new semiconductor fabrication plants in South Korea, but that won't conclude until 2029.

Political good, political bad

The move could be a considerable win for the United States and the Trump Administration, which wants to increase US-based production.

Back in June, the administration claimed a massive win by saying Intel was making chips for Apple. SK Hynix memory production would be considered another victory, especially as it is a supplier for Apple products.

However, this would depend on SK Hynix being allowed to make such a deal in the first place. Sources say that the South Korean government could step in and block such an initiative due to the sensitivity of the technologies.

A role reversal

If SK Hynix and Intel do make some form of deal, it would complete one capitalistic circle of sorts.

In 2020, SK Hynix bought Intel's NAND SSD business, NSND component and wafer business, and a Dalian NAND memory manufacturing facility in China. At the time, Intel retained its Optane business.

At the time, the transaction cost SK Hynix $9 billion.