Seoul
SKhynix, the South Korean semiconductor giant, has initiated an internal investigation into the presence of its memory chips in Huawei Technologies’ latest smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro. SK hynix’s memory components, including LPDDR5 DRAM and NAND Flash memory, are integrated into Huawei’s new device. This revelation has prompted SK hynix to scrutinize how its products ended up in the Chinese tech firm’s smartphone. It’s important to note that SK hynix’s memory components in Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro appear to be an isolated case, with the Chinese company sourcing these materials from overseas suppliers. SK hynix clarified its stance, stating that it terminated its business relations with Huawei following the introduction of U.S. restrictions against the Chinese tech giant. The chipmaker is fully committed to adhering to the U.S. government’s export restrictions. The supply of SK hynix’s chips to Huawei ceased in the fall of 2020 when the U.S. imposed a ban on providing semiconductors made with U.S. equipment, software, and design to Huawei without prior approval, citing national security and technology concerns. At the time, Huawei accounted for approximately 10 percent of SK hynix’s total sales. As part of its commitment to compliance, SK hynix has reported this situation to the Bureau of Industry and Security under the U.S. Department of Commerce, the agency responsible for managing issues involving national security and advanced technology.
