Nanya Tech: AI Shifts Memory Industry to Structural Growth, Advanced Technology Becomes Key to Profitability
At a shareholders' meeting on May 21, Nanya Technology Chairman Jou, Ming-Jen stated that driven by AI demand, the memory industry is transitioning from a cyclical model to structural growth, with advanced technology being the key to future profitability. The company plans a capital expenditure of up to NT$52 billion this year to accelerate the expansion of its 5A fab and the development of 10nm-class process technology. It expects to complete validation of its 1C process pilot product in the second half of the year to capture opportunities in AI servers, AI PCs, and smartphones.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 12:06
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 12:31 (25 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 21, 2026 at 12:47 (15 min after Collected)
Memory manufacturer Nanya Technology's Chairman, Jou, Ming-Jen, stated today (the 21st) that while the memory industry was previously cyclical, it is now gradually shifting to a structural growth business model due to AI demand. He emphasized that the key to future profitability lies in mastering advanced technology. Nanya Technology's pilot product using 1C process technology is expected to complete validation in the second half of this year.
At Nanya Technology's annual shareholders' meeting today, Jou said that in response to the growing demand for high-end memory driven by artificial intelligence, major memory manufacturers began adjusting their capacity allocation in the second quarter of last year. They announced plans to discontinue the supply of DDR4 and LPDDR4 and upgraded capacity to produce products like High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and high-capacity DDR5 modules, leading to a significant rise in the prices of various DRAM types.
Jou stated that Nanya Technology's production and sales improved in the third quarter of last year, allowing the company to return to profitability with a quarterly profit of NT$1.56 billion. In the fourth quarter, profits surged to NT$11.09 billion, demonstrating strong profit growth momentum. For the full year, the net profit after tax was NT$6.61 billion, with earnings per share of NT$2.13.
Jou said that with the development of AI, cloud service providers are continuously investing in AI servers equipped with large amounts of high-end DRAM products such as HBM, LPDDR5, and RDIMMs. Furthermore, edge computing applications in end products like AI PCs, AI smartphones, and AI robots will all boost DRAM content, driving demand growth.
Jou indicated that the demand for DRAM from both AI servers and general servers will expand, with growth expected to continue into 2026. Equipping high-end models with high-capacity DRAM has become a trend, and the rise of AI smartphones is also increasing the demand for high-capacity LPDRAM.
He pointed out that while overall personal computer (PC) shipments may decline slightly, the increase in DRAM content per unit is expected to drive growth in the overall PC market demand. The market for networking products is stable, with strong demand for high-end consumer products, while demand for low-end products is slowing.
Jou reiterated that the memory industry, traditionally cyclical, is now changing into a structural growth model due to AI demand, and the key to future profits is mastering advanced technology. Nanya Technology has long been dedicated to deepening its technology and systematically promoting its various businesses.
Jou stated that Nanya Technology expects to complete product validation for the 16Gb DDR5 shrink version, 16Gb DDR4, and 8Gb/16Gb LPDDR4 this year. Additionally, 8Gb/16Gb LPDDR5 will enter pilot production.
The pilot product using 1C process technology, a 16Gb DDR5, is expected to complete validation in the second half of this year. The pilot product using 1D process technology, also a 16Gb DDR5, will enter pilot production in the second quarter of this year. Furthermore, Nanya Technology is developing customized, high-performance, low-power ultra-high bandwidth memory with partners, which is expected to contribute to revenue in the first half of next year.
Jou noted that the capital expenditure ceiling for this year is set at NT$52 billion. This is to cover final payments for the transition of some capacity to 1B process technology, construction, facilities, and cleanrooms for the new 5A fab, as well as R&D and general capital expenditures.
Jou said that in the short term, Nanya Technology will accelerate the expansion of the 5A new fab and plan for medium- to long-term new fab site selection and capacity. This year, the company will continue to optimize its various DRAM product lines to increase profitability, adhere to technological innovation, and invest more R&D resources to accelerate the development of 10-nanometer class process technology and more new-generation DDR5, LPDDR5, and AI high-bandwidth products.
At Nanya Technology's annual shareholders' meeting today, Jou said that in response to the growing demand for high-end memory driven by artificial intelligence, major memory manufacturers began adjusting their capacity allocation in the second quarter of last year. They announced plans to discontinue the supply of DDR4 and LPDDR4 and upgraded capacity to produce products like High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and high-capacity DDR5 modules, leading to a significant rise in the prices of various DRAM types.
Jou stated that Nanya Technology's production and sales improved in the third quarter of last year, allowing the company to return to profitability with a quarterly profit of NT$1.56 billion. In the fourth quarter, profits surged to NT$11.09 billion, demonstrating strong profit growth momentum. For the full year, the net profit after tax was NT$6.61 billion, with earnings per share of NT$2.13.
Jou said that with the development of AI, cloud service providers are continuously investing in AI servers equipped with large amounts of high-end DRAM products such as HBM, LPDDR5, and RDIMMs. Furthermore, edge computing applications in end products like AI PCs, AI smartphones, and AI robots will all boost DRAM content, driving demand growth.
Jou indicated that the demand for DRAM from both AI servers and general servers will expand, with growth expected to continue into 2026. Equipping high-end models with high-capacity DRAM has become a trend, and the rise of AI smartphones is also increasing the demand for high-capacity LPDRAM.
He pointed out that while overall personal computer (PC) shipments may decline slightly, the increase in DRAM content per unit is expected to drive growth in the overall PC market demand. The market for networking products is stable, with strong demand for high-end consumer products, while demand for low-end products is slowing.
Jou reiterated that the memory industry, traditionally cyclical, is now changing into a structural growth model due to AI demand, and the key to future profits is mastering advanced technology. Nanya Technology has long been dedicated to deepening its technology and systematically promoting its various businesses.
Jou stated that Nanya Technology expects to complete product validation for the 16Gb DDR5 shrink version, 16Gb DDR4, and 8Gb/16Gb LPDDR4 this year. Additionally, 8Gb/16Gb LPDDR5 will enter pilot production.
The pilot product using 1C process technology, a 16Gb DDR5, is expected to complete validation in the second half of this year. The pilot product using 1D process technology, also a 16Gb DDR5, will enter pilot production in the second quarter of this year. Furthermore, Nanya Technology is developing customized, high-performance, low-power ultra-high bandwidth memory with partners, which is expected to contribute to revenue in the first half of next year.
Jou noted that the capital expenditure ceiling for this year is set at NT$52 billion. This is to cover final payments for the transition of some capacity to 1B process technology, construction, facilities, and cleanrooms for the new 5A fab, as well as R&D and general capital expenditures.
Jou said that in the short term, Nanya Technology will accelerate the expansion of the 5A new fab and plan for medium- to long-term new fab site selection and capacity. This year, the company will continue to optimize its various DRAM product lines to increase profitability, adhere to technological innovation, and invest more R&D resources to accelerate the development of 10-nanometer class process technology and more new-generation DDR5, LPDDR5, and AI high-bandwidth products.
FAQ
南亞科認為記憶體產業的未來趨勢是什麼？
根據南亞科董事長鄒明仁的說法，由於人工智慧（AI）的需求，記憶體產業正從傳統的景氣循環型態，逐漸轉變為結構性增長的經營型態，未來的獲利關鍵在於掌握先進技術。
南亞科2024年的技術發展目標為何？
南亞科預計今年完成16Gb DDR5微縮版、16Gb DDR4及8Gb/16Gb LPDDR4的產品驗證，並導入8Gb/16Gb LPDDR5試產。採用1C製程的16Gb DDR5先導產品預計下半年完成驗證，而1D製程的16Gb DDR5將於第二季導入試產。
南亞科今年的資本支出計畫是多少？其用途為何？
南亞科今年的資本支出上限為新台幣520億元，主要用於支付1B製程技術的尾款、5A新廠的營建與設施、研發以及其他一般性資本支出。
AI的發展如何影響DRAM市場？
AI發展帶動雲端服務業者投資AI伺服器，以及AI PC、AI手機等邊緣運算終端產品的出現，這些應用都需要搭載大量高階DRAM（如HBM、LPDDR5），從而推升DRAM的總搭載量與市場需求。
南亞科2023年的獲利狀況如何？
南亞科在2023年全年稅後淨利為66.1億元，每股純益2.13元。公司在第三季轉虧為盈，單季獲利15.6億元，第四季獲利更大幅攀升至110.9億元。