TECH NEWS – DRAM prices have risen by triple digits in percentage this year alone, which sounds unbelievable!
Prices have reached astonishing levels, and it appears that the consumer memory industry will be drastically affected as manufacturers report shortages. The DRAM market is not doing well because the AI memory cycle has consumed most of the production capacity. The enormous demand for memory from the AI sector has forced Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix to reorganize their production allocations and has even led to companies refusing additional DDR orders. According to DigiTimes, Samsung, one of the largest DRAM manufacturers, has suspended contract pricing for DDR5 DRAM, and others are likely to follow suit.
DRAM products have risen significantly in spot prices in 2025 (172%). The spot price of 16 GB DDR5 has nearly doubled in the past month, reaching a record high of $15.50. This trend is expected to continue into 2026 due to ongoing industry demand and anticipated supply shortages in the first quarter. One reason for the record rise in DDR5 prices is that most production has been allocated to CSPs and AI giants. In addition to HBM, consumer memories (DDR5 and DDR4) are used in various CSP environments.
This has prompted Samsung and other DRAM manufacturers to switch to DDR5 and HBM production to capitalize on the high demand. Meanwhile, consumers are expected to suffer again. Prices for memory modules from Corsair, Adata, and other manufacturers have steadily risen since the third quarter. The retail price has increased by at least 20-40% in recent weeks due to supply constraints. As AI giants sign long-term contracts with DRAM suppliers, the situation will likely worsen.
This is promising news for the DRAM industry as a whole. However, consumers should upgrade their memory soon, as prices are expected to rise further. Those with DDR4 configurations will have to pay even more.
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