{"id":1107,"date":"2026-06-02T01:51:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T16:51:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/vietnam-news\/hoya-vietnam-factory\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T16:54:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T07:54:06","slug":"hoya-vietnam-factory","status":"publish","type":"vietnam-news","link":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/en\/vietnam-news\/hoya-vietnam-factory\/","title":{"rendered":"HOYA to build new HDD glass substrate plant in Vietnam -- approx. JPY 50 billion investment, completion in 2028 to meet AI data center demand"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nThis article is based on what we could verify As of August 1, 2026<\/strong> This article is based on public materials and news reports from Vietnam. Vietnam's tax system, regulations, and administrative divisions change frequently, so information here may have been updated since publication. For actual business decisions, please confirm the latest details with the relevant government authorities or local experts as primary sources.\n<\/div>\n\n\n

HOYA to build new JPY 50 billion HDD glass substrate plant in Vietnam<\/h2>\n\n

Optical glass major HOYA Corporation has announced it will build a new plant in Vietnam to make glass substrates for HDDs (hard disk drives). The investment is about JPY 50 billion, with completion targeted around 2028. Demand for high-capacity HDDs for AI data centers is surging, and the new plant responds to the fact that existing plants are running at full capacity.<\/p>\n\n

This will be HOYA's fourth glass substrate plant, in addition to its two existing sites in Vietnam and one in Laos.<\/p>\n\n

Overview of the investment plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>Description<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Investment amount<\/td>Approx. JPY 50 billion<\/td><\/tr>\n
Expected completion<\/td>Around 2028<\/td><\/tr>\n
Products<\/td>HDD glass substrates<\/td><\/tr>\n
Plant number<\/td>4th (3rd site in Vietnam)<\/td><\/tr>\n
Existing sites<\/td>2 plants in Vietnam + 1 plant in Laos<\/td><\/tr>\n
Operating status<\/td>Existing plants running at full capacity<\/td><\/tr>\n
Separate investment<\/td>EUV blanks plant in Singapore (approx. JPY 42 billion, mass production to start in 2028)<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Background: how AI is reshaping the HDD market<\/h2>\n\n

The rapid expansion of data center investment driven by the AI boom is reshaping the structure of the HDD market. The huge volumes of data generated by training and running generative AI are stored long-term as low-access-frequency 'cold data.' HDDs, which are cheaper per gigabyte than SSDs, are being reevaluated as the storage medium for this data.<\/p>\n\n

Increasing HDD storage capacity requires thinner discs. Conventional aluminum substrates are difficult to make thinner due to strength limitations, but glass substrates can be made substantially thinner. HOYA holds an almost monopolistic global share of the glass substrate market, making the shift to high-capacity HDDs a direct tailwind for the company.<\/p>\n\n

Comparison of HDD substrate materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>Aluminum substrate<\/th>Glass substrate (HOYA)<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Thinning<\/td>Limited (around 0.635mm)<\/td>Can be made substantially thinner (0.5mm or less)<\/td><\/tr>\n
Smoothness<\/td>Standard<\/td>High precision (contributes to higher recording density)<\/td><\/tr>\n
Strength<\/td>Prone to bending<\/td>Hard and resistant to breaking<\/td><\/tr>\n
Main use<\/td>Conventional 3.5-inch HDDs<\/td>High-capacity enterprise HDDs<\/td><\/tr>\n
Global share<\/td>Multiple manufacturers<\/td>HOYA holds an almost total monopoly<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Local Reaction<\/h2>\n\n

The Vietnamese government welcomes HOYA's additional investment. Vietnam is actively courting foreign direct investment to build itself as a manufacturing base for semiconductors and electronic components, and HOYA's JPY 50 billion investment ranks as one of the larger FDI deals into Vietnam in 2026.<\/p>\n\n

HOYA has a track record of gradually shifting production from Thailand to Vietnam, and has accumulated substantial operational know-how there. The quality of Vietnam's manufacturing workforce and the stability of its supply were decisive factors behind the additional investment.<\/p>\n\n

Among Japanese manufacturers, the topic of 'HOYA accelerating its concentrated investment in Vietnam' has drawn attention. The company has also announced a JPY 42 billion EUV blanks plant in Singapore for semiconductor applications, making clear a 'function-based distributed investment' strategy of choosing the optimal location for each use.<\/p>\n\n

Implications for Japanese Companies<\/h2>\n\n

HOYA's additional investment in Vietnam carries three implications for Japanese manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n