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Korean Customs Data Show Memory Chip Prices Jump as Consumer Modules Slip

Suppliers are steering output to high‑margin AI parts, squeezing commodity supply.

Overview

  • Official trade data from South Korea show steep gains in raw memory chips, with DRAM at $89,498 per kg, NAND at $67,307 per kg, and HBM at $78,752 per kg after strong month‑over‑month increases.
  • DRAM modules, which are the finished sticks used in PCs and servers, fell 13.9% month over month to $29,882 per kg, highlighting a break between chip costs and end products.
  • Overall memory pricing reached $82,680 per kg with sharp year‑over‑year growth, pointing to tight supply at the chip level even as some downstream prices cool.
  • Manufacturers including Samsung, SK hynix, Micron, and Kioxia are shifting capacity to HBM and high‑spec server DRAM to meet AI and data‑center demand, which leaves fewer wafers for consumer parts.
  • TrendForce reports consumer NAND spot prices have eased and TLC‑based SSDs have dropped 30% to 40% due to a PC slowdown and inventory build‑ups, while upstream cost changes usually hit makers and distributors before showing up in retail prices.