Overview
- Samsung raised contract rates 30% to 60% versus September, with 32GB DDR5 modules jumping from $149 to $239 and 16GB and 128GB parts up roughly 50%.
- The company postponed its customary October pricing update while reassessing availability before implementing the hikes.
- Distributors report customers taking far smaller allocations than needed, with panic buying spilling into the spot market by PC brands such as Asus and MSI.
- Samsung plans a new production line in South Korea to serve longer‑term AI demand, as analysts expect further contract price increases into the October–December quarter.
- Rising memory costs are pressuring margins for server builders and device makers, with Xiaomi warning of higher phone costs, SMIC noting deferred orders for other chips, memory stocks rallying, and PC makers downgraded on margin risk.