Memory Prices Spiral Out of Control! Another 50% Increase Expected This Quarter

According to the latest report from DRAMeXchange on January 4, due to worsening DRAM supply shortages, contract prices for DRAM in the first quarter of 2026 are projected to surge by as much as 50%.

The primary driver behind this situation is the explosive growth of the AI industry. Currently, memory giants such as Samsung and SK Hynix have shifted their production focus entirely toward high-margin AI-specific memory products, severely squeezing DRAM supply for the traditional PC market.

In this seller-dominated market, suppliers now wield unprecedented pricing power, while PC OEMs reliant on module makers are grappling with spiraling costs.

Major PC manufacturers have already seen their inventory levels drop to critical lows—enough to cover only a few weeks of demand. Facing the upcoming CES-driven product refresh cycle, giants like Lenovo and Dell are being forced to sign costly long-term agreements with suppliers to secure inventory.

This means the increased raw material costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers, making a wave of price hikes highly likely for newly launched laptops and desktops.

Moreover, the memory shortage is not expected to ease anytime soon. As a result, consumers should anticipate another significant price jump for both DDR5 and DDR4 memory modules following their recent historic surge.