Kioxia and U.S. SanDisk have decided to make a combined investment of approximately ¥5 trillion by 2032. They plan to build a new manufacturing building on the site of the Kitakami Plant, with government support expected to be a prerequisite.
SanDisk, together with major semiconductor company Kioxia Holdings, announced plans to invest a total of approximately ¥5 trillion by 2032. The companies said they will pursue capital investment to meet rising demand for NAND flash memory as AI-based society continues to grow.
The plan specifies that approximately ¥1.8 trillion of the investment will be allocated to constructing a new manufacturing building on the site of the Kitakami Plant. The companies have made approximately ¥9 trillion in capital investments in locations including Yokkaichi and Kitakami to date, but plan to further expand investment over the next 6 years.
The government has positioned AI and semiconductors as pillars of economic growth, and government support is a prerequisite for the investment plan. The Takaichi Sanae (高市早苗) administration has also indicated that it welcomes the additional investment plan, which is expected to total approximately ¥5 trillion.
Amid recurring waves known as the silicon cycle, Kioxia is maintaining a cautious stance based on the lessons of its former Toshiba era while looking to the long-term tailwind from AI demand.