Overview
- Market reports say ASUS, MSI and other system vendors are buying aggressively on the spot market as a procurement race intensifies across the supply chain.
- Spot quotes for DDR5 RDIMM have jumped sharply, with 64GB above $700, 96GB near $1,200 and 128GB approaching $2,400 per module.
- TrendForce cut its 2026 production outlook to a 2% decline for smartphones and a 2.4% decline for laptops, citing cost pressure from soaring memory prices.
- The firm warns laptop retail prices could rise 5–15% in 2026 as DRAM contract prices stand more than 75% higher year over year and total BOM costs continue to climb.
- Multiple module makers are postponing planned new memory SKUs to watch DRAM pricing trends, with industry expectations pointing to tight supply through 2026 and potential strain into 2027.