Micron initiates job cuts in China as the American memory chip manufacturer withdraws from the mobile NAND market
Micron Technology Exits Mobile NAND Market in China, Cuts Over 300 Jobs
In a strategic move to retreat from the underperforming mobile NAND market, Micron Technology, a leading semiconductor company based in Boise, Idaho, has announced job cuts affecting more than 300 employees in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Xi'an, China.
The layoffs, which began around August 11, 2025, are targeting embedded teams in research and development (R&D), testing, and support roles such as field application engineers (FAE) and application engineers (AE). This decision comes as Micron aims to exit the smartphone memory segment, marking a significant shift in its operations in China.
The company's withdrawal from the mobile NAND segment includes halting global development of future mobile NAND products, such as terminating the UFS5 (Universal Flash Storage 5.0) R&D program. However, Micron will continue to develop and support other NAND products, including solid-state drives (SSDs) and NAND solutions for automotive and other markets.
The decision to exit the mobile NAND market is attributed to ongoing challenges including weak performance of mobile NAND products, fluctuating global memory chip demand, and escalating US-China trade tensions. Micron's sales share in China has declined from 14% in 2023 to 12.1% in 2024, indicating a shrinking footprint in the region compared to its larger shares in the U.S. and Taiwan markets.
Reports of the job cuts were first made by Chinese media, although the exact number of job losses at Micron's mainland China units remains undisclosed. The company did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
The layoffs are part of a broader trend of foreign technology companies downsizing their operations in China over the past few years. This move by Micron signals a strategic shift away from mobile NAND memory products in China amid global market pressures and bilateral trade challenges.
Sources:
- Reuters
- Bloomberg
- South China Morning Post
- Nikkei Asia
- TechCrunch
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