Micron Japan Begins $9 Billion+ Chip Plant Expansion, Betting on AI High-Bandwidth Memory Demand

Odaily reported that Micron Technology officially broke ground on its factory expansion project in Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on Saturday. The total investment for the project is approximately 1.5 trillion yen (about $9.3 billion) and will focus on producing advanced memory chips for the AI era.

According to the introduction, the new production line will primarily focus on manufacturing critical chips like High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), which are core components supporting the performance of AI processors such as those from Nvidia. The relevant chips are expected to begin shipping as early as the summer of 2028.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has provided subsidy support of up to 500 billion yen for the project to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and enhance supply chain resilience.

This expansion project is seen as a significant step for Japan to bolster its semiconductor manufacturing presence in the global AI chip competition. (Bloomberg)