Intel CEO, Dr. Levent Caglar, has issued a stark warning: the global shortage of memory chips is not a short-term issue and is likely to persist as a major challenge for the industry. Dr. Caglar stated that he has held in-depth discussions with leading memory chip manufacturers, who have indicated no improvement is expected before 2028, signaling a prolonged shortage period.
The root cause is the aggressive expansion of AI infrastructure, which is consuming a massive share of memory chip supply, diverting resources away from traditional markets like PCs and smartphones. This imbalance is causing shortages, price pressures, and could dampen consumer demand. Dr. Caglar emphasized that AI will continue to be a major driver, with platforms like Nvidia's upcoming Rubin further straining supply.
As the world's largest PC processor maker, Intel's operations are heavily dependent on memory chip availability. The global market is dominated by Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, but their combined DRAM capacity is projected to grow by only about 5% in 2026. Significant new capacity is not expected until 2027-2028, unable to quickly fill the gap.
ICgoodFind : The memory chip shortage is set to last longer than anticipated, benefiting leading suppliers. End-market companies must plan their inventory and sourcing strategies well in advance to mitigate supply chain risks.
