Micron Hiroshima Expansion: Timeline, Funding, and Suppliers
On July 4, 2026, Micron Technology broke ground on a new cleanroom at its Hiroshima plant in Higashihiroshima, Japan (Micron press release, July 4, 2026). The plan that Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) approved on September 12, 2025 puts the required funding at about JPY 1.5 trillion and lists the first shipment for June–August 2028. Micron says equipment move-in for the new building will start in the second half of 2028.
For people outside Japan, a project like this tends to show up in quieter ways. For example, a Japanese parts supplier may warn that its semiconductor customers are ramping up, a US equipment maker's field team may be asked about installation support in Hiroshima, or a buyer in India or Southeast Asia may wonder whether a Japanese vacuum-parts or fine-ceramics vendor will still have capacity for them in 2028. This article sorts out what has actually been announced, when each phase is scheduled, where the money flows inside Japan's supply chain, and what to check with your Japanese partners. It ends with a checklist and an email template you can adapt.
Every number here comes from Micron's July 2026 release or from Japanese government documents (METI, the Cabinet Office, the Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Hiroshima Prefecture). The date and source are given with each figure.
Contents
- Micron Hiroshima Expansion at a Glance
- When Will the New Hiroshima Fab Start Production?
- How Japan Funds It: Three METI-Approved Plans
- Why Micron Is Expanding in Hiroshima
- Where the Money Flows: Japan's Supplier Tiers
- What It Means for US and Overseas Partners
- The Chugoku Region's Supplier Network
- How to Get Into the Supply Chain
- Checklist: What to Ask Your Japanese Partners
- Risks and Limits of This Article
- FAQ
- Sources
Micron Hiroshima Expansion at a Glance
The project is a new cleanroom building (a production building designed to keep airborne dust and particles to an absolute minimum) on the grounds of Micron's existing plant in the Yoshikawa Industrial Park, Higashihiroshima. It is not a greenfield fab. The plant has made DRAM, the main memory used in PCs and servers, for many years. Micron Memory Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Micron Technology, runs the site. The building will go up in phases, and the first phase covers about 28,000 m² (about 300,000 sq ft). Fujita Corporation is the general construction partner (Micron, July 4, 2026).
According to the METI-approved plan (September 12, 2025), the main product is next-generation DRAM beyond today's 1-gamma (1γ) node. Production capacity is listed as 40,000 wafers per month (12-inch, or 300 mm, equivalent), and the plant as a whole is expected to have about 5,200 employees.
A new cleanroom building, built in phases on the existing DRAM plant site.
Sources: METI, summary of the approved plan for Micron Memory Japan (approved September 12, 2025); Micron press release (July 4, 2026). Status as of October 2026.
From Elpida to Micron
The Hiroshima plant was the main fab of Elpida Memory, a former Japanese DRAM maker that Micron acquired in 2013. Micron calls the new building the largest cleanroom expansion at the Hiroshima site since that acquisition. The site has handled major node transitions for Micron, including production of 1-beta (1β) DRAM and the introduction of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography for 1-gamma DRAM (Micron, July 4, 2026). METI's October 2023 approved plan describes that 1-gamma project as the first use of EUV lithography tools for volume production in Japan.
Next-Generation DRAM and the HBM Link
News coverage often calls this an "AI memory plant," but the METI plan lists the main product as next-generation DRAM. High-bandwidth memory (HBM), the memory placed next to GPUs in AI servers, is built by stacking DRAM dies. So the most accurate way to read the plan is that the new building will supply the advanced DRAM that HBM is built from. Micron says its Hiroshima team works with its US and other global R&D teams on advanced DRAM and HBM for next-generation AI.
Related: Semiconductor Back-End Process: Flow and Japanese Suppliers
When Will the New Hiroshima Fab Start Production?
Short answer: first shipments under the approved plan are scheduled for June–August 2028, and continuous production from March–May 2030. Both are plans, not commitments. Before the ceremony, media reported a construction start of May 2026; the groundbreaking actually took place on July 4, 2026.
METI's plan uses Micron's fiscal-year quarters. "First shipment: Q4 2028" equals June–August 2028 on the calendar, and "continuous production: Q3 2030" equals March–May 2030. The plan lists the investment start as April 2025 and equipment installation from April 2026 through Japan's fiscal year 2029 (which ends in March 2030), followed by at least 10 years of continuous production.
About five years from plan approval to continuous production.
The September 2025 plan and the July 2026 release do not line up neatly: tool move-in for the new building comes after the planned first shipment. All dates are plans and may change.
Note the order of the dates. Micron's July 2026 release puts tool move-in for the new building in the second half of 2028, while the approved plan lists the first shipment in June–August 2028. The plan covers equipment installation at the Hiroshima plant from April 2026, so first shipments could come from equipment outside the new building. Neither document says which. If your planning depends on output from the new cleanroom, it is safer to assume volume ramps after late 2028, and to treat every date as subject to change.
For suppliers, demand shifts by phase:
- Building construction (2026 onward)
- Cleanroom systems: HVAC, ultrapure water, gas and chemical piping, exhaust treatment
- Tool move-in and installation (Micron's schedule: from 2H 2028)
- Consumables, spare parts, and maintenance once production runs
Map your products and services onto these phases to see when inquiries are likely.
How Japan Funds It: Three METI-Approved Plans
Micron says the project is supported by up to JPY 536 billion that METI announced on September 12, 2025, for advanced memory R&D and manufacturing in Hiroshima (Micron, July 4, 2026). The facility subsidy runs through the subsidy program for specified semiconductor production facilities under Japan's 5G Promotion Act: METI approves a company's plan, and NEDO (the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) pays the grant.
This is the third time METI has approved a Micron plan for Hiroshima under this program. The 2023 plan carried support of up to about JPY 167 billion, according to a Cabinet Office document from December 2023.
Each new node brought a larger investment, more staff, and higher annual spending.
Source: METI summaries of each approved plan for Micron Memory Japan. Employee numbers are totals for the whole plant. Support caps are covered in the text.
Required funding grew three- to fourfold from one plan to the next, in line with the general trend that each new DRAM node needs more expensive tools and buildings.
What Micron Commits to in Return
The 2025 approved plan includes these commitments:
- At least 10 years of continuous production in Japan
- Increasing output as far as possible if the Japanese government requests it during a supply shortage
- Rules and access controls for technical information, with penalties for leaks set in work rules
In effect, Japan is paying for secure domestic memory supply in a crisis. For suppliers, the 10-year production commitment is especially relevant: it sets a long baseline for consumables and maintenance demand, although memory cycles still move volumes up and down.
Why Micron Is Expanding in Hiroshima
Micron also has operations in the US, Taiwan, Singapore, and elsewhere. Demand and site conditions both favor Hiroshima for this round. On the demand side, generative AI is driving up demand for the HBM placed next to GPUs, and capacity for the advanced DRAM that HBM is built from can run short worldwide.
AI-driven demand meets an existing site with EUV experience, public support, and a local supply base.
Sources: METI approved-plan summaries (2023, 2025), Micron press release (July 4, 2026), Hiroshima Prefecture (December 2025).
On the supply side, the strongest factor is that Hiroshima already runs EUV lithography in volume production. EUV tools take a long time to bring up, and few engineers have run them in a fab. Building next to a fab that already has that experience is generally faster and less risky than starting on an empty site. The 2025 plan states that the next node will use the site's existing EUV process, tool, and materials technology.
Where the Money Flows: Japan's Supplier Tiers
A JPY 1.5 trillion investment does not stay inside Micron. Most of it leaves as orders to contractors, tool makers, parts makers, and service companies. According to the 2025 approved plan, the Hiroshima plant sourced about 80% of its production-related costs (utilities, materials, maintenance, and so on) in Japan in 2023. After the expansion, annual production spending is projected at about JPY 166 billion. That means suppliers see two kinds of demand: a one-time construction wave, and recurring business every year the plant runs.
One-time construction demand, then recurring demand once production runs.
Categories reflect the typical supply structure of a semiconductor fab, not the actual vendors of any company. Fujita Corporation has been publicly named as the construction partner.
Building and Cleanroom Construction
Construction moves first. Micron has named Fujita Corporation as its general construction partner. A fab building carries far more mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work than a standard factory: particle-controlled HVAC, ultrapure water systems, gas and chemical piping, and exhaust abatement. That spreads work to specialty contractors in HVAC, piping, and electrical.
Fab Tools and Tool Components
The largest share of a fab budget goes to tools for lithography, deposition, etch, cleaning, and inspection. Japan has a deep base of tool makers, and beneath them sits a long list of component makers: vacuum parts, precision-machined parts, piping and fittings, and fine ceramics. Most component makers do not sell to the fab directly. They see the demand through the tool makers they supply. For where Japanese companies hold top global share in these materials and tools, see our overview of Japan's top global market share in materials and equipment.
Related: Top Japanese Semiconductor and Electronic Component Makers
Materials, Gases, and Consumables
Once production starts, silicon wafers, photoresist, specialty gases, and cleaning chemicals are consumed every day. Unlike construction demand, this lasts as long as the fab runs. Japan has many niche suppliers that lead the world in a specific material, and an advanced fab in their home market matters to them.
Maintenance, Logistics, and Staffing
Services are easy to overlook: tool maintenance, cleaning and refurbishing of replacement parts, on-site logistics, cleaning, and staffing. These are the areas where local small and midsize firms find it easiest to get in, because being close to the plant is itself an advantage.
What It Means for US and Overseas Partners
Micron describes the project as strengthening supply chain resilience between Japan and the US and supporting technology ramps across its global manufacturing and R&D network (Micron, July 4, 2026). For readers outside Japan, the effects depend on where you sit. The points below are MONOSCOPE's reading of public information, not requirements from Micron.
- US and European tool and component suppliers: Tool move-in from the second half of 2028 means installation, qualification, and spare-parts support in Hiroshima. Check whether your Japanese subsidiary or distributor has the staff and cleanroom-qualified service engineers for that window.
- Buyers sourcing from Japanese semiconductor parts makers: If your vendor also supplies tool makers serving Hiroshima, ask how they will allocate capacity from 2027 to 2029. Ask about custom machined and vacuum parts as well as catalog items.
- Engineers at other Micron sites or Micron partners: Micron's Hiroshima team works with US and global R&D teams on advanced DRAM and HBM, so process and qualification work for the next node may involve Hiroshima contacts.
- Companies considering a base in Hiroshima: Hiroshima Prefecture offers investment subsidies and relocation support (see below). Check the current conditions with the prefecture directly.
The Chugoku Region's Supplier Network
Micron says the project will promote domestic and regional procurement, open opportunities for local suppliers, and contribute to job creation across the surrounding supply chain and service ecosystem. Over time, it expects the investment to contribute to workforce growth that includes more than 1,000 jobs (Micron, July 4, 2026).
The region has been preparing. The Chugoku Region Semiconductor-Related Industry Promotion Council (our translation of the Japanese name), run with the Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry as its secretariat, was set up on October 5, 2022. Micron Memory Japan takes part as a core member, according to METI's 2023 and 2025 plan summaries. Membership grew from 282 organizations (June 26, 2025) to 347 in the member list dated July 14, 2026, and the largest group is makers of parts for semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Of 347 members, equipment-parts makers are by far the largest group.
MONOSCOPE's count from the council member list published by the Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (as of July 14, 2026), by business category. Facilities (9) and financial institutions (6) are combined. By headquarters location, Hiroshima Prefecture has the most members (92).
The council has a Supply Chain Resilience subcommittee and, under it, an equipment-parts supplier group where members discuss shared issues such as preventing technology leakage, preparing for the silicon cycle (the industry's boom-and-bust swings), and business continuity planning (BCP). It also runs technical exchanges, business-matching events, and seminars, including a 2025 talk by a local equipment-parts maker that entered semiconductors from another industry. For an overseas company, the member list is a practical starting point for finding Japanese partners near the plant.
Hiroshima Prefecture's Support Programs
Hiroshima Prefecture created a Semiconductor Industry Division in April 2025. As of December 2025, the prefecture offered semiconductor companies up to JPY 3.5 billion for capital investment in the prefecture and up to JPY 5 billion for investment that includes R&D. It also supports relocation: up to JPY 10 million for an executive and JPY 1 million per employee or family member, up to JPY 100 million in total. Many municipalities add their own incentives on top. Conditions change, so confirm details with the division.
Growth also brings pressure on roads, housing, and water. Micron says it will work with the prefecture and Higashihiroshima City on local infrastructure, livability, and workforce development. How well the region absorbs new workers will shape how far the benefits spread. Hiring will also compete with other local manufacturers.
How to Get Into the Supply Chain
Big investment news creates expectations that work will flow to whoever is nearby. Advanced fabs, however, have strict quality and cleanliness requirements, and waiting for a call rarely leads to business. The usual path is to build a track record through tool makers or tier-1 suppliers before dealing with the fab itself.
Most suppliers start with tool makers or tier-1 suppliers, not the fab itself.
A general outline of how semiconductor supply relationships develop. It does not describe any specific company's purchasing criteria.
At the first stage, Japanese buyers look beyond quick quotes and price. They check the quality assurance system and the on-time delivery record. For how Japanese purchasing teams rate suppliers, see Japanese procurement: QCD negotiation and supplier ratings. To prepare for an on-site visit, use our supplier audit checklist for Japanese customers.
Checklist: What to Ask Your Japanese Partners
Use these questions with Japanese suppliers, distributors, or customers whose business touches the Hiroshima project.
Pair each question with what you need to prepare on your side.
- 1Is your company involved in the Hiroshima project, directly or through a tool maker?Find out whether your supplier's capacity is likely to be pulled toward semiconductor customers.
- 2How will you allocate capacity from 2027 to 2029?Ask about machining, cleaning, and inspection capacity, not just total output.
- 3Do you expect lead-time changes for our parts?Agree on how early you will be warned and whether a forecast or blanket order would secure supply.
- 4Who supports tool installation and spares in Hiroshima?For tool and component suppliers: confirm local service staff, cleanroom training, and spare-parts stock.
- 5Which quality and cleanliness requirements apply?Particle limits, cleaning specs, packaging, and traceability can differ from your current customers.
- 6What happens if the schedule slips or demand drops?Memory demand swings. Discuss how forecasts and commitments change if Micron's dates move.
These are not requirements from Micron or its suppliers. MONOSCOPE compiled them from public information.
Email Template: Asking a Japanese Supplier About Capacity
Adapt this to your situation. Replace the bracketed parts. Short, numbered questions are easier for Japanese teams to answer and forward internally.
Subject: [Part name / P/N]: capacity and lead time outlook for 2027–2029 Hello [Name], We understand that semiconductor investment in Japan, including Micron's expansion in Hiroshima, may increase demand for [machined / vacuum / ceramic] parts over the next few years. To plan our own production, could you help us confirm the following? 1. Do you expect any change to lead times for [part name / P/N] between 2027 and 2029? 2. If capacity becomes tight, how will orders be allocated? Would a rolling forecast or a blanket order help secure our volume? 3. How much advance notice can you give us before any lead-time or price change? 4. Who is our contact if supply conditions change? Our current forecast is [quantity] per [month / quarter]. We are happy to share an updated forecast every [month / quarter]. Thank you for your support. Best regards, [Your name] [Company]
Risks and Limits of This Article
- Memory prices and demand swing more than most semiconductor segments. Micron's release states that its statements on construction timing, demand, job creation, and community and supply chain effects are forward-looking and that actual results may differ materially.
- Downturns do happen. METI's October 2023 plan summary notes that Micron cut about 10% of its global workforce in 2023 because of a weak memory market. Avoid depending too heavily on one customer or one fab, and size your own capital spending to survive a down year.
- The supplier categories in Figure 5 and the checklist are general. They do not describe any company's actual vendors or purchasing criteria.
- The breakdown of the JPY 536 billion support between facilities and R&D is not given in Micron's release or the METI plan summary, so this article does not show one.
- All dates are as published in the September 2025 plan and the July 2026 release, checked as of October 2026. Check for updates before you make decisions.
FAQ
When will Micron's new Hiroshima fab start operating?
The METI-approved plan (September 2025) lists the first shipment for June–August 2028 and continuous production from March–May 2030. Micron's July 2026 release puts tool move-in for the new cleanroom in the second half of 2028, so volume from the new building likely ramps after that. All dates are plans.
Who is building Micron's Hiroshima cleanroom?
Micron named Fujita Corporation as the general construction partner. Fab construction also involves a lot of specialty work, such as HVAC, ultrapure water, gas and chemical piping, and exhaust treatment.
How much is Micron investing in Hiroshima, and how much does Japan contribute?
The METI-approved plan puts the required funding at about JPY 1.5 trillion. Micron says the project is supported by up to JPY 536 billion that METI announced on September 12, 2025, for advanced memory R&D and manufacturing in Hiroshima.
Does the Hiroshima fab make HBM?
The approved plan lists next-generation DRAM as the main product. HBM is made by stacking DRAM dies, so the new building supplies the advanced DRAM that HBM uses. Micron says its Hiroshima team contributes to HBM development with its US and global R&D teams.
How can an overseas supplier get business from the Hiroshima project?
Usually through tool makers, tier-1 suppliers, or Japanese partners rather than the fab itself. The Chugoku regional semiconductor council's member list (347 organizations as of July 2026) and Hiroshima Prefecture's Semiconductor Industry Division are practical starting points.
Sources
- Groundbreaking, first-phase area, Fujita, tool move-in, ¥536 billion support, jobs, largest expansion since 2013, forward-looking statements: Micron press release, "Micron breaks ground on Hiroshima cleanroom to support advanced memory for AI" (July 4, 2026; published on Micron's Japan newsroom)
- 2025 plan: funding, product, capacity, schedule, employees, domestic sourcing, commitments: METI, summary of the approved plan for Micron Memory Japan (Japanese) (approved September 12, 2025)
- 2023 plan (1γ, EUV, 2023 workforce reduction): METI plan summary (Japanese) (approved October 3, 2023)
- 2022 plan (1β): METI plan summary (Japanese) (approved September 30, 2022)
- 2023 plan support cap (about ¥167 billion): Cabinet Office meeting material (Japanese) (December 11, 2023)
- Subsidy administration: NEDO, specified semiconductor production facility subsidy program (Japanese)
- Regional council and member list: Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, semiconductor industry support page (Japanese) (member list as of July 14, 2026)
- Council activities and June 2025 membership: Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, council activity report (Japanese) (2025)
- Prefectural support: Hiroshima Prefecture (Japanese) (December 12, 2025)
Original article in JapaneseThis guide is adapted from a MONOSCOPE article written for readers in Japan: マイクロン広島新工場はいつ稼働？1.5兆円投資・建設会社・2028年までの予定と国内サプライヤーへの波及
About the editor
MONOSCOPE EditorFOUNDER & EDITORSpent about ten years at a plant equipment maker and a plant engineering company, proposing, designing, and commissioning equipment, then moved into web marketing. Now a web consultant for B2B manufacturers, helping them explain their products and technology. Licensed in Japan as an Energy Manager and a Third-Class Chief Electrical Engineer.
Has run an engineering blog since 2017 (500+ articles) and a Japanese YouTube channel with about 20,000 subscribers. Each English guide is written from the Japanese shop-floor point of view and checked against the cited standards.
