Counterpoint Research storage market data shows YMTC rose to third globally by NAND shipments in Q2 2026, behind only Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, surpassing Kioxia and Micron. Excluding Solidigm shipments from SK Hynix, YMTC would rank second.
Revenue share gains are also notable. From Q1 2025 to Q1 2026, YMTC's global NAND revenue share rose from 9% to 14%, a gain of over 50%, among the fastest among major NAND makers. AI demand lifted the entire NAND market, with revenue growth reaching as high as 478% year-over-year.
Counterpoint senior analyst Jeongku Choi said that with AI pushing NAND into a supercycle, YMTC has become the fastest-growing maker. Despite geopolitical pressures, its investments in capability and capacity remain prudent and effective, with 2026 revenue growth potentially 6x the industry and peer average.
The growth is driven by enterprise SSDs, a field YMTC barely touched two years ago. Counterpoint Research Director MS Hwang noted YMTC seized both price increases and rising domestic demand, having previously failed to capture enterprise SSD premiums. Its server-related revenue share is expected to grow from nearly zero in 2024 to nearly 39% by 2028.
Controller partnerships are key to entering enterprise. YMTC has partnered with Phison, DapuStor, Silicon Motion, Dera, and T-Head, while deepening ties with Huawei. MS Hwang's key question: can YMTC convert domestic breakthroughs into design wins outside China, not just serving domestic hyperscalers? That leap will determine whether it can further challenge Samsung.
ICgoodFind Summary: YMTC moved from consumer NAND into enterprise SSDs, taking server revenue from zero to an expected near-40% share in two years. Domestic demand is the springboard, but overseas design wins are the next threshold for truly challenging Samsung.
