According to recent reports from TrendForce, DRAM memory contract prices are expected to increase by as much as 50% during this quarter.
This surge, which some experts describe as the beginning of a “supercycle,” is the result of a combination of supply shortages and overwhelming demand driven by artificial intelligence technology.
AI Boom Drives Memory Shortage
The main factor behind this trend is the rapid growth of generative AI. Major tech companies and cloud service providers are competing to secure high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for their AI systems. Leading manufacturers such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have shifted a significant portion of their production capacity toward these more profitable HBM chips, leaving the production of DDR4 and DDR5 modules with lower priority.
Reports indicate that large buyers are reserving production lines up to two or three years in advance. This situation has left PC and laptop manufacturers facing limited supply, which is already pushing memory prices higher across the market.
Although it may take a few months for contract price changes to fully reach retail stores, the effects are already being felt. The cost of RAM modules for desktop and laptop computers is expected to rise sharply. Smartphones and servers will also face higher production costs, which could lead to either higher retail prices or reduced base specifications for new models.
Industry analysts warn that this upward trend in prices will not be temporary. With order fulfillment rates in some sectors falling below 70%, the DRAM shortage is expected to continue throughout 2026 and possibly into 2027.
For consumers planning to upgrade their systems or build a new PC, now might be the last opportunity to purchase memory before prices reach prohibitive levels.
