Yangtze Memory Technologies’ 3D NAND flash memory products (Screenshot from YMTC website) China’s Yangtze Memory Technologies is forecast to increase NAND wafer output by nearly 25 percent next year, as it seeks to catch up with its Korean rivals, whose major expansions are not expected until 2028.Market tracker Omdia expects YMTC’s annual NAND output will rise by 486,000 wafers, from 2.01 million this year to 2.50 million in 2027, according to industry sources Sunday.The expansion will be driven largely by the company’s third plant in Wuhan, which is scheduled to begin initial operations late this year. Its annual output is projected to surge from 90,000 wafers this year to 575,000 in 2027.By comparison, Samsung Electronics’ NAND output is forecast to edge up from 4.77 million wafers to 4.85 million next year. SK hynix, including its US subsidiary Solidigm, is expected to increase production from 2.79 million to 2.87 million wafers.YMTC has already been gaining ground. It overtook Japan’s Kioxia in the second quarter to become the world’s third-largest NAND supplier by shipment volume for the first time.The Chinese chipmaker remains fifth by revenue, partly because of its limited exposure to the higher-priced enterprise solid-state drives used in data centers. Rising NAND prices, however, are expected to strengthen its profitability and finance further expansion.YMTC has reportedly set a goal of becoming the world’s largest NAND supplier by the end of 2027 as it prepares for an initial public offering, directly challenging market leaders Samsung and SK hynix.That would mean more than doubling output, suggesting a much greater expansion than that reflected in Omdia's forecast.A potential stock listing as early as the fourth quarter could provide additional funding for the Wuhan plant and other fabrication facilities as YMTC seeks to more than double its production capacity.Samsung and SK hynix, meanwhile, are prioritizing investment in DRAM and high-bandwidth memory, leaving major additions to their NAND capacity unlikely before 2028.Samsung plans to produce NAND at part of its P5 complex in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, with operations beginning in stages between 2027 and 2030.SK hynix plans to break ground on its M17 fab in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in February next year. Its first clean room is scheduled to open in December 2028.The difference in investment timing has raised concerns that Korean chipmakers could lose NAND market share before their new production lines come online.YMTC’s rapid expansion could eventually weigh on prices. TrendForce expects supply to loosen from the second half of 2027 as new capacity enters the market while consumer electronics demand remains sluggish.