RAM prices rise sharply

RAM memory prices have continued to increase significantly, with some prices rising by as much as five times over the past year. This trend has been observed in various types of memory, with DDR4 8 GB DRAM for personal computers seeing a notable increase.

DDR4 memory sees strong price increase

The average fixed transaction price for DDR4 8 GB DRAM for PCs rose by 5.77% between September and October 2026, increasing from about 26 to 27.50 dollars, according to DRAMeXchange, a market research firm under the TrendForce group.

DDR5 memory prices remain stable

In contrast to DDR4, DDR5 memory modules have experienced much smaller price increases, with an average rise of around 0.3%. This indicates a different market dynamic for the newer type of memory.

NAND memory prices stabilize

The 128 GB MLC NAND memory, used in storage devices like USB drives, hard drives, and SSDs, remained stable in October, ending a 21-month period of continuous price increases. This suggests a shift in the market for storage memory.

South Korean manufacturers consider production cuts

South Korean media Yonhap News reported that major RAM manufacturers, including Samsung and SK Hynix, are considering reducing their production of DRAM memory for PCs by at least 20% in 2027, with the possibility of a reduction as high as 40%.

Shift in production focus

These companies may reallocate their resources to memory intended for data centers, which have already reserved the majority of the upcoming production. This shift reflects changing demand patterns in the memory market.

Future price predictions

TrendForce predicts that the contractual prices of PC DRAM will be 13% to 18% higher in the fourth quarter compared to the previous one, with this upward trend potentially continuing until at least 2030.