TECH NEWS – Chinese memory manufacturers were widely seen as a possible lifeline for the RAM market, but that expectation is fading fast. A local Chinese retailer has listed a 32GB DDR5 RAM kit at roughly $530, which is now nearly the same price major global brands charge for the same capacity.

RAM prices are already sitting at extremely high levels, driven in large part by the global pressure created by the AI boom. Chinese manufacturers had been viewed as one of the few sources of hope, with claims that surplus memory chip production could help meet demand and ease pricing pressure. Instead, the Chinese market appears to be feeling the same squeeze, as 32GB DDR5 kits are also selling for more than $500, putting local pricing close to what buyers are seeing elsewhere in the world. For context, these Chinese RAM products often use chips made by CXMT.

China has enormous manufacturing capacity, many consumers expected Chinese memory makers to offer a cheaper alternative to global RAM pricing. That hope has now taken a serious hit, and the idea of China acting as a low-cost pressure valve for the market looks much less realistic.

Chinese 32GB DDR5 RAM Kits Are Now Selling for More Than $500

Chinese retailer JD.com has listed a 32GB DDR5-6000MHz RAM kit at 3,629 yuan, which converts to about $530. That places it in roughly the same range as products sold by well-known vendors such as Corsair, G.Skill, V-Color, and others.

CXMT operates massive production facilities capable of turning out millions of wafers per month. However, the company appears to be prioritizing AI-related demand as well, likely because it offers far stronger profit potential than standard consumer sales. The U.S. also eased restrictions on Chinese memory producers in part because they could have helped push RAM prices lower. But if domestic Chinese prices are already this high, the global market may not see much relief from that shift.

For buyers thinking about importing Chinese RAM, it may make more sense to buy from a more established brand instead, especially since better value could come from used options in local markets. For now, the expectation of cheap Chinese memory looks largely gone.

Source: Tech4Gamers