Apple is reportedly testing memory chips from Chinese semiconductor manufacturer CXMT, and may be lobbying the US government for approval.
The Financial Times has reported that Apple is testing whether it can use DRAM chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a semiconductor manufacturer supported by the Chinese government, in its devices for the Chinese market. CXMT has grown to become the world's fourth-largest DRAM manufacturer, and Apple is reportedly lobbying the U.S. government to allow increased use of its products.
Apple interest thrusts China's CXMT into memory chip spotlight
Apple Begins Testing Controversial Chinese Memory Chips - MacRumors
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/08/apple-begins-testing-controversial-chinese-memory/
The U.S. government has blacklisted several Chinese companies, known as the 'Chinese Military Enterprises List,' prohibiting them from doing business with the Department of Defense. It has been reported that Apple is trying to address the global memory supply shortage by asking the Trump administration to allow them to do business with companies on this blacklist.
Apple is seeking permission from the Trump administration to purchase memory from CXMT, a Chinese company blacklisted by the US government, to cope with soaring memory prices - GIGAZINE
According to the Financial Times, Apple has already begun testing CXMT's DRAM chips for devices it will sell in China. This is likely part of the technical certification process that precedes mass production adoption, but it does not mean that Apple has decided to commercially use CXMT chips.
According to Apple-related news site MacRumors, Apple had been in discussions with CXMT and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) regarding memory procurement as of last week, but a contract had not yet been finalized. This latest report indicates that at least with CXMT, Apple has moved on to concrete certification testing, suggesting that they may be preparing to integrate them into their supply chain as soon as political approval is obtained.
CXMT is the world's fourth-largest DRAM manufacturer, following Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. According to SemiAnalysis, a semiconductor industry research firm, CXMT is projected to account for approximately 11% of global DRAM wafer production capacity in 2025, and this figure is expected to rise to approximately 15% by 2028 with the commencement of operations at its new production line in China.
For Apple, securing CXMT as a new DRAM supplier could give them an advantage in price negotiations with Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. MacRumors points out that demand for AI servers has diverted DRAM production capacity away from consumer devices, leading to an estimated 55-60% increase in contract prices for standard DRAM in early 2026.
However, the use of CXMT is politically quite sensitive. Apple considered using Chinese memory manufacturers such as YMTC in 2022, but the plan was shelved after US policymakers raised national security concerns.
Both CXMT and YMTC are listed on the '1260H' list, which the U.S. Department of Defense uses to identify companies with ties to the Chinese military. According to MacRumors, this list primarily restricts contracts with the Department of Defense and does not immediately prohibit normal commercial purchases. However, YMTC is also on the U.S. Department of Commerce's Entity List, meaning that U.S. companies would need export licenses to do business with them. Apple is reportedly seeking assurances from the government that CXMT will not be added to the Entity List in the same way as YMTC.
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