Apple seeks Trump approval to buy Chinese DRAM chips
In brief
- Apple seeks Trump approval to buy DRAM from Chinese chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies
- AI-driven memory shortages force Apple to raise iPad and MacBook prices
- Supply-chain diversification conflicts with geopolitical risk management
The shortage forcing Apple's hand
A global memory chip shortage, driven largely by insatiable demand from the AI sector, has squeezed hardware makers across the industry. Apple felt the pressure directly. The company raised prices on iPads and MacBooks in late June 2026 as memory and storage chip costs climbed. That move signals how acute the problem has become.
CEO Tim Cook acknowledged the severity. "All options need to be considered when it comes to addressing component shortages," he said in a statement. The remark signals Apple's willingness to explore unconventional suppliers, even in geopolitically sensitive jurisdictions.
Diversification vs. national security
Apple has reportedly been in discussions with CXMT for DRAM supply and with Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. for NAND flash since early 2026. The goal is straightforward: reduce exposure to the pricing power of incumbent suppliers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron.
But history complicates the path forward. In 2022, Apple explored working with YMTC but abandoned the plan after US congressional opposition made the arrangement politically untenable. The same political headwinds could resurface.
Micron has pushed for stricter limitations on US companies doing business with Chinese memory firms like CXMT, citing national security concerns. That pressure will likely shape how the Trump administration responds.
CXMT's moment
CXMT reported revenue growth of over 700% year-over-year in Q1 2026. The firm is also preparing for an IPO in Shanghai worth roughly $4 billion. Those metrics suggest CXMT has the capacity and ambition to serve major customers like Apple.
The timing is noteworthy. On June 18, 2026, President Trump announced a partnership between Apple and Intel focused on US-based chip design and production. That announcement underscored the administration's emphasis on domestic semiconductor strength. Yet Apple's simultaneous push to source from CXMT reveals the limits of domestic capacity — and the real cost of chip shortages on consumer pricing.
