Taiwan NAND Maker Macronix Gains Momentum As Samsung’s MLC Exit Drives A Sharp Revenue Shift
Taiwan based Macronix is emerging as one of the clearest beneficiaries of the latest NAND market realignment, as Samsung’s move away from MLC NAND production continues to reshape demand across lower density and legacy focused segments. According to Economic Daily News, Macronix’s NAND Flash revenue share climbed from 21% to 30% in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 90% quarter on quarter increase and a 382% year on year jump. TrendForce later summarized the same development and linked it directly to Samsung’s MLC NAND exit.
That shift matters because it shows how the memory market is splitting more aggressively between cutting edge AI oriented products and the lower density storage products that still power a wide range of embedded, automotive, industrial, and entry level systems. As larger vendors direct more capacity toward premium NAND and AI driven products, suppliers like Macronix are gaining strategic room in categories that bigger players are increasingly less interested in serving. TrendForce specifically says the global memory industry’s shift toward higher capacity products is creating an opening that Macronix is now capitalizing on.
The numbers around eMMC are even more eye catching. TrendForce, citing Commercial Times, says tightening supply in the 4Gb to 32Gb segment has driven strong substitution demand for Macronix, pushing eMMC revenue up 94% quarter on quarter and nearly 40 times year on year. That is a significant signal that the supply vacuum is not limited to one narrow product category, but is spilling over into adjacent storage solutions as customers search for reliable sources.
Macronix management is also leaning into the pricing strength. Economic Daily News reports that NOR Flash and SLC NAND pricing will continue to rise, with the company already moving to a monthly negotiation model instead of longer term fixed pricing. TrendForce adds that analysts expect contract prices for Macronix NOR and SLC NAND products to rise by nearly 100% in the second quarter, underscoring how tight the market has become.
From a product roadmap perspective, Macronix is not standing still. Economic Daily News says the company’s main NAND focus currently includes 19nm 2D NAND and 96 layer 3D NAND, with 96 layer products already shipping steadily, 192 layer technology nearing completion, and 300 plus layer NAND still under development. TrendForce’s summary aligns with that roadmap and notes that 96 layer 3D NAND is fully in production while 192 layer is nearing completion.
The broader business context is just as important. Economic Daily News reports that Macronix posted first quarter consolidated revenue of NT$10.469 billion, up 35% quarter on quarter and 71% year on year, while gross margin expanded to 40.8% and net profit reached NT$1.779 billion. NAND Flash accounted for 30% of revenue, while NOR Flash remained the largest contributor at 58%.
There is still a capacity ceiling to watch. TrendForce says Macronix’s 12 inch fabs are already effectively full, that equipment deliveries are being delayed by broader industry shortages, and that most new tools may not arrive until the first half of 2027. That suggests the company is in a strong pricing position, but it also means supply expansion may remain constrained even as demand stays elevated.
For the wider NAND market, this is another reminder that Samsung’s strategic retreat from selected lower end segments is creating real second order winners. In DRAM, similar shifts have already opened opportunities for other suppliers in older generation products. In NAND, Macronix now appears to be one of the clearest examples of that same pattern, especially in MLC, SLC, eMMC, and lower density categories where continuity of supply can matter more than bleeding edge specs.
Do you think more memory vendors will follow Samsung and prioritize high end AI focused products, or is there still too much money left on the table in these lower density storage segments?
