In response to ongoing global memory chip shortages, Google is reportedly evaluating the procurement of DRAM chips from Chinese manufacturer CXMT. This development signals a possible shift away from reliance on the established "Big 3" memory suppliers—Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron—and could open the door for wider adoption of Chinese memory components across the tech industry.
The speculation first emerged from a social media account citing Google's interest in Chinese DRAM sourcing, with the claim seemingly linked to Sundar Pichai, Google's parent company Alphabet’s CEO. While it remains unclear whether these chips would serve Google's Pixel smartphones, AI computing hardware, or cloud infrastructure, industry observers suggest the likely target could be Google's next-generation AI accelerators, known as Humufish TPUs. Google is reportedly planning to produce millions of these custom chips by 2028, which would require substantial memory procurement.
At the same time, CXMT is aggressively expanding its manufacturing capacity, aiming to reach 300,000 wafer starts per month by year-end, up from about 200,000 today. The company is preparing for an initial public offering, highlighting its ambitions to scale supply rapidly. This expansion coincides with heightened global trade tensions, as the U.S. government previously prepared to blacklist CXMT and other Chinese technology firms but delayed such actions to avoid worsening relations with Beijing.
The context of Google's potential move also reflects broader market pressures. Apple recently acknowledged that rising memory prices, driven by scarcity, are forcing price increases for its products. Such supply chain strains may be motivating top technology companies to seek alternative chip sources, including emerging suppliers from China.