Overview
- Spot DRAM prices are up roughly 172% this year, while contract prices rose about 171.8% year over year through Q3, according to multiple industry reports.
- Samsung has paused new DDR5 contract pricing to reassess the market after the spike in spot rates, with reports indicating other suppliers are limiting fresh orders.
- SK hynix said it has already sold out its 2026 production, underscoring how long-term AI and cloud commitments are absorbing available output.
- Module makers and retailers report immediate stock shortfalls and retail price increases of roughly 20%–40% for consumer kits, with ADATA’s chairman citing broader shortages across DRAM, SSDs and HDDs.
- Digitimes reporting points to further DDR5 increases of about 30%–50% per quarter into early 2026, suggesting elevated prices and tight supply will persist.