The PC market in Japan has entered an unprecedented state of paralysis. Major retailers and Built-to-Order (BTO) system manufacturers have stopped accepting new desktop PC orders, warning that availability will not return to normal until 2026, at the earliest.
Shortage of Memory and Components
The main reason behind this suspension of orders is the shortage of memory (RAM) modules and other critical components. This supply shortage has severely impacted local stores that assemble custom-built PCs—a very popular option in Japan.
Unlike large multinational companies that can secure stock through long-term contracts, these specialized stores rely on a supply chain that is currently “choked.” The key factors include:
- Chip shortages: Memory production is failing to meet global demand.
- Skyrocketing prices: The costs of remaining components have surged, making the assembly of new PCs economically unfeasible for many retailers.
- AI manufacturing priority: Much of the available manufacturing capacity is being redirected to high-speed chips for Artificial Intelligence data centers, leaving little supply for consumer markets.
Impact on Japanese Consumers
For consumers in Japan, buying a high-performance PC has become nearly impossible through regular retail channels. Stores have decided to halt sales entirely rather than accept orders they know they cannot fulfill for months.
This situation highlights the deep weaknesses in the global supply chain. While the world looks ahead to the future of computing, the present faces a bottleneck affecting every level of the consumer market.
In other news, rising DDR5 RAM prices have also caused a sharp decline in motherboard sales, reportedly by as much as 40-50% for major vendors like ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI, as consumers delay PC upgrades
