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Samsung Lifts DDR5 Contract Prices Up to 60% as AI Memory Crunch Deepens

AI data‑center buying is soaking up supply to drive a broad repricing across tech hardware.

Overview

  • Reuters sources say Samsung raised certain DDR5 contract prices versus September, including a 32GB module jump to $239 and roughly 50% increases on 16GB and 128GB parts.
  • Industry executives report panic buying and tighter allocation, with analysts noting customers are locking in long‑term deals that stretch into 2026 and beyond.
  • Silicon Motion’s CEO said HDD, DRAM, HBM and NAND will be in severe shortage in 2026 and that most capacity is already sold out.
  • Early downstream effects are evident as Xiaomi cited higher memory costs in raising smartphone launch prices, while SMIC said the shortage is causing customers to delay other chip orders.
  • TrendForce expects DDR5 prices to keep rising through much of 2026, and board‑channel reports suggest GPU makers could lift prices in late 2025 or early 2026 as GDDR costs climb.