Kioxia and SanDisk Begin 10th-Generation 3D NAND Production at Kitakami Fab

Kioxia and SanDisk said they have started production of 10th-generation 3D flash memory at Fab2, also known as K2, at the Kitakami Plant in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The site, which opened in September 2025, had already been producing the partners' 8th-generation 3D flash and is now being scaled for the newer generation. Both product generations use CBA, or CMOS directly Bonded to Array, which the companies position as a way to deliver better performance, higher density, and lower power use. The announcement also reinforces the long-term nature of the Kioxia-SanDisk manufacturing partnership, which has been extended through December 2034. For the memory market, the main implication is that one of the major NAND alliances is continuing to invest in advanced output and manufacturing efficiency rather than slowing expansion. That should support future flash supply availability, although the immediate pricing effect is likely to be gradual rather than abrupt.