Major memory chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix have notified customers of plans to increase DRAM and NAND Flash prices by up to 30% in Q4 2025. This surge is driven by unprecedented demand from the AI sector, with the hikes slightly exceeding earlier industry forecasts.
The market consensus is that the memory industry is entering a "super cycle." Intense supply concerns are prompting panic buying, with international electronics and server companies now negotiating 2-3 year long-term supply agreements—a significant shift from traditional short-term contracts.
A primary driver is the explosion in demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for AI and high-performance computing. HBM consumes over three times more wafer input than standard DRAM, directly tightening supply and pushing prices higher. In response, Samsung is accelerating its HBM4 development, targeting mass production by year-end. Price increases for HBM are particularly sharp, with its 12-layer HBM4 variant expected to launch at a 60% premium over current HBM3e.
ICgoodFind : The memory price surge is reshaping the global supply chain, making supply stability and technology roadmaps critical to watch.
