SK Hynix is in talks with Intel to manufacture its memory chips in the U.S. for the first time, Reuters reported Wednesday, sending shares of both companies higher in premarket trading.
Intel rose 5% while SK Hynix's Nasdaq-listed shares were 3% higher.
Under one scenario, SK Hynix would lease part of Intel's chipmaking facility in Ohio, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Intel and SK Hynix could also form a joint venture with Intel and major cloud firms, Reuters said.
SK Hynix could also look at other ways to structure the deal, the news agency reported. The talks are exploratory, and no decisions have been made, one of the sources told Reuters.
Intel and SK Hynix did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the report.
If a deal is struck, it would be a big win for Intel, which has been looking to gain marquee customers for its manufacturing, or foundry business, which is a key pillar of CEO Lip-Bu Tan's strategy. The arrangement could also advance the U.S. government's efforts to bring more semiconductor manufacturing to America's shores.
SK Hynix is one of the world's leading suppliers of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a key component of Nvidia's chips. It also produces other types of memory chips that are crucial for AI applications.
A deal between Intel and SK Hynix to manufacture advanced memory like HBM could face opposition from the South Korean government because the technologies are considered sensitive, Reuters reported, citing three sources.
SK Hynix, which listed its American depository receipts on the Nasdaq in July, has been a big beneficiary of the AI boom. The rush to build data centers has created a shortage of memory chips, sharply driving up prices and enabling SK Hynix and its rival Samsung to rake in huge profits.
SK Hynix's South Korea-listed stock is up 400% over the last year.
