CXMT Rejects Apple's DRAM Inquiry, Prioritizing Supply for Chinese Market
nashnova research
CXMT declined to quote on Apple's DRAM inquiry; its capacity is already locked up by Huawei, Xiaomi, and other Chinese brands on long-term contracts — a sign that China's top memory chipmaker is now choosing its customers, not waiting for them.
Apple rebuffed twice — why can CXMT say no?
CXMT (长鑫存储) recently failed to provide a quote on Apple's DRAM procurement inquiry, according to Economic Observer. The company has not commented.
This is not the first time: in August 2026, National Business Daily reported that Apple approached CXMT about LPDDR5X mobile DRAM, seeking a lower price. CXMT refused to cut its quote, pricing at or above Samsung and SK hynix levels.
This means → CXMT is not chasing Apple's volume with discounts; its pricing stance already matches the two Korean giants.
Who locked up the capacity first?
Huawei, Xiaomi, and other Chinese brands have reportedly reserved CXMT's output through long-term contracts — the foundation of its strong negotiating position with Apple.
In plain terms = there is only so much capacity. Chinese customers signed long-term deals first, leaving little room to negotiate when Apple came knocking.
CXMT clearly prioritizes the domestic market for now; whether it will fully exclude overseas orders remains to be confirmed.
What does LPDDR6 mass production signal?
In September 2026, CXMT announced commercial mass production of its in-house LPDDR6, debuting in the Xiaomi 18 Fold foldable phone.
The chip offers 16 Gb per die and 16 GB package capacity, meeting the JEDEC LPDDR6 standard. This means → CXMT's specs now match the international mainstream — it is no longer a low-to-mid-tier substitute.
This reflects a shift from "able to manufacture" to "able to ship flagship-grade chips," deepening its ties with Chinese smartphone brands.
After expansion, will overseas buyers get a chance?
Third-party data from Counterpoint and others project CXMT's monthly DRAM wafer capacity to rise from roughly 320,000 wafers today to 420,000 by 2027 — an increase of about 100,000 wafers.
In plain terms = capacity grows by roughly 30%. If the expansion proceeds on schedule, there is theoretically enough headroom to serve both domestic and overseas demand.
Whether CXMT opens supply to overseas markets after this expansion will be the key indicator of its globalization strategy.
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