Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s second-largest maker of memory chips, said Tuesday it is seeking to build a new production line in China to manufacture flash memory chips in response to rising demand for mobile devices.

The company applied for a permit from the South Korean government to build its second overseas production line for producing NAND flash devices based on the 20-nanometer class process technology, it said in a statement. If authorization is given and construction begins on schedule, production at the factory will begin in 2013.

China is rising as a key market for consumer electronics devices. Building production facilities in the world’s most populous country will help the chipmaker quickly respond to consumer demand, Samsung said. The tech giant plans to begin talks with the Chinese government to choose a location for the new plant so construction can begin next year.

If approved, the China production line will be Samsung’s second overseas plant. The company currently operates production lines in Austin, Texas, that manufacture NAND flash memory chips and logic chips. Most of Samsung’s semiconductor production facilities are located in South Korea. 

(Yonhap News)