YMTC, short for Yangtze Memory Technologies, is China's largest NAND flash maker and now the third largest in the world by bits shipped. Its chips store the data inside SSDs, USB drives and memory cards. US rules limit the tools it can buy and some federal purchases, but not most retail sales.
I have mentioned its market share, how its 3D NAND is built, the rules by buyer type and what it means for SSD supply below.
What Is YMTC?
YMTC was founded in July 2016 in Wuhan by Tsinghua Unigroup, with heavy backing from Hubei province and China's national chip fund, according to company records. It sells consumer SSDs under its own Zhitai brand and supplies NAND to other drive makers. In August 2026, its parent filed to list on Shanghai's STAR Market, seeking about ¥33 billion.
One common mix up is worth clearing early. YMTC makes NAND flash for storage, not RAM. China's DRAM maker is a different company, CXMT.
YMTC Market Share in 2026
YMTC passed Kioxia in Q2 2026 to take third place in NAND bit shipments, based on Counterpoint Research data.
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Company
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Q2 2026 NAND bit shipment share
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Revenue rank
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Samsung
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25%
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1st
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SK Hynix (incl. Solidigm)
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22%
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2nd
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YMTC
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14%
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5th
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Kioxia
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4th by shipments
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3rd or 4th
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Micron
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5th by shipments
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3rd or 4th
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A separate count puts YMTC at 16.5%, with a long term goal of 20%. The gap between third by bits and fifth by revenue matters most. Nearly all YMTC flash goes into lower priced consumer drives and cards, while rivals earn more per bit from enterprise SSDs. For the wider field, see our list of top internal SSD manufacturers.
Xtacking and YMTC's 3D NAND
1. How Xtacking Works
Most NAND makers build the memory cells and the control circuits on one wafer, layer by layer. YMTC's Xtacking makes them on two separate wafers, then bonds them face to face with millions of tiny connections. That lets each wafer use the process that suits it, and it helps YMTC add layers on older tools, which matters under US export controls.
2. YMTC Layer Count vs Other NAND Makers
Layer count sets how many bits fit on a wafer. Here is where each maker's newest mass production NAND stands, based on company announcements and layer roadmaps.
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Maker
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Newest mass production
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Next step
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SK Hynix
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321 layers
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375 layers, targeted for late 2026
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Samsung
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286 layers (V9)
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400 layer class V10
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Micron
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276 layers (G9)
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Not yet announced
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YMTC
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267 layers (Xtacking 4)
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Over 300 layers in development
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Kioxia
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218 layers (BiCS8)
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332 layer BiCS10, sampling 2026
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Can YMTC Become the Largest NAND Maker by 2027?
YMTC told investors it aims to pass Samsung and SK Hynix by the end of 2027, a target shared just ahead of its IPO. Doubts are fair. Adding that much output needs etch and deposition tools that US rules keep from it, so capacity can't jump in one year.
YMTC does have room to grow. It stockpiled equipment for years, and its third Wuhan fab is set to reach 50,000 wafers a month in 2027, with two more fabs planned. A realistic read is steady share gains toward 20%, not first place by 2027.
What YMTC Means for SSD Prices and Supply
More supply is still more supply, and every YMTC wafer eases the global NAND crunch a little. The effect may also be uneven. Buyers outside the US, where YMTC parts sell freely, could see more relief than US buyers.
Short term help is limited, though. Most YMTC output is used inside China, according to market coverage, and YMTC is now shifting toward enterprise SSDs. AI servers took 48% of all NAND bits in Q2 2026, and TrendForce expects NAND contract prices to rise 15% to 20% in Q4. Client SSDs and cards will stay tight, so compare options with our list of SD and microSD card manufacturers.
US Rules and Restrictions Buyers Should Know
Many people assume Americans can't buy Chinese chips. In fact, SSDs with YMTC NAND are still sold in US stores today. The rules depend on who you are and who you sell to.
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Rule or buyer type
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What it covers
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Date
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Commerce Entity List
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Limits US tools and technology sold to YMTC; does not ban buying its chips
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Since December 2022
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DoD, direct contracts
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No contracts with listed Chinese military companies, including YMTC
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Since June 30, 2026
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DoD, through suppliers
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No products that contain items from listed companies
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From June 30, 2027
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All US federal agencies
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No products or systems that contain YMTC chips
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From December 23, 2027
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US commercial buyers
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No ban on buying YMTC based products today
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Ongoing
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Buyers outside the US
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No US restriction on purchase
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Ongoing
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YMTC was dropped from the Pentagon's Chinese military company list in February 2026 and put back in June 2026. The DoD dates come from Section 805 defense contracting rules, and the federal date comes from the FY2023 NDAA.
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⚠ Selling into US government supply chains?
Audit the NAND die source in every SSD, card and flash drive you ship to federal or defense buyers before mid 2027, and confirm the rules with compliance counsel.
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How to Tell If an SSD Uses YMTC NAND
The SSD brand on the label rarely tells you whose flash sits inside. Start with the markings on the NAND packages under the label, since the chip maker's logo and part code appear there.
Without opening the drive, a drive information tool can often read the flash ID and name the NAND maker. For volume orders, ask suppliers for a written die source declaration and list the NAND maker in your bill of materials. Suppliers can switch flash between batches, so check each new lot, not just the first sample.
Should You Source YMTC NAND?
It can fit consumer and industrial products sold outside US government channels, as long as the drives pass your own qualification. Run endurance, temperature and power loss tests, and lock the NAND source in your contract so a cheaper part can't slip in later. Avoid it in any product that may reach federal or defense buyers after 2027.
Our guide to OEM, ODM and private label options explains how to set those terms with a supplier. Digiera builds SSDs, memory cards and USB drives for OEM buyers, and you can request a quote with NAND source details on Digiera's SSD manufacturing page.
FAQs
What does YMTC stand for and is YMTC on the US Entity List?
YMTC stands for Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. It is a NAND flash maker based in Wuhan, China, founded in 2016.
Since December 2022, the listing has limited US tools and technology sold to YMTC. It doesn't stop companies from buying products made with its chips.
Can you buy SSDs with YMTC NAND in the US?
Yes. Consumer SSDs with YMTC flash are sold in the US today. Federal agencies, though, can't buy products containing its chips from December 2027.
Does YMTC make RAM?
No. YMTC only makes NAND flash for SSDs, cards and USB drives. China's main DRAM maker is a separate company, CXMT.
What is Xtacking?
Xtacking is YMTC's method of building NAND cells and control circuits on separate wafers, then bonding them together. It helps YMTC add layers with older tools.
Why is YMTC third in shipments but fifth in revenue?
Most of its flash goes into lower priced consumer drives. Rivals earn more per bit by selling enterprise SSDs to data centers.
Will YMTC lower SSD prices?
Not soon. Most of its output stays in China, and AI servers are absorbing global NAND, so contract prices are still forecast to rise in Q4 2026.
Is YMTC going public?
Yes. Its parent filed in August 2026 to list on Shanghai's STAR Market, aiming to raise about ¥33 billion for fabs and R&D.
