(JW Insights) Aug 8 -- China's leading memory chip maker Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) is collaborating with local Chinese flash device controller suppliers to market SSDs with its 232-layer NAND chips at relatively low prices, reported Digitimes on August 4.

An SSD series from Chinese brand Tengyn is available in local channels with claims that it is equipped with YMTC's 232-layer NAND flash chips.

Sources with local channels said that a test of the device shows that the SSD is indeed equipped with YMTC's 232-layer X3-9070 chip, reported Digitimes.

The Tengyn SSDs were made available about two months ago, but since then, their prices have dropped sharply, the sources said. The low prices are probably the result of YMTC's expanded collaboration with local controller IC vendors, such as Maxio. SSDs with a capacity of 2TB are becoming mainstream in the Chinese market.

YMTC unveiled its 24-layer NAND flash in 2013 and, in 2017, launched its 3D NAND. In 2018, it unveiled its Stacking technology, which allowed it to migrate directly to 96-layer NAND.

In 2022, YMTC announced its Xtacking 3.0 Gen 4 NAND flash, X3-9070, built on a 232-layer architecture.

China has been keen on securing IC self-sufficiency amid intensifying tensions with the US. China has imposed sanctions on Micron, which is providing opportunities for local memory makers, such as YMTC, to fill the supply gap.

China has been a major market for Micron, accounting for about 10% of the US vendor's sales. In 2022, Micron made $30.7 billion in sales, of which $3.3 billion came from China, said the Digitimes report.

(Li PP)