YMTC expects the global shortage of RAM and SSDs to last until 2030, while TrendForce warns that DRAM prices are set to surge again in Q4 2026 due to U.S. cloud demand. This aligns with Micron and Nvidia's views that the memory shortage will not resolve easily in the near term.
Sources from YMTC, a major Chinese memory chip manufacturer, revealed that the global memory shortage will persist for at least three more years. Meanwhile, market research firm TrendForce estimates that DRAM contract prices in Q4 2026 are likely to rise significantly, mainly driven by demand from large U.S. cloud service providers.
TrendForce's latest report states that DRAM supply remains extremely tight. Initial price negotiations between suppliers and customers indicate that demand is rising again.
Currently, YMTC has become the world's third-largest NAND chip manufacturer for SSDs by shipment volume, behind only Samsung and SK Hynix. The source's view suggests SSD prices are likely to increase as well. However, TechRadar points out that YMTC benefits from portraying a bright business outlook, as the company is preparing for its initial public offering (IPO).
Memory prices have already surged significantly over recent months. TechRadar cites data from the German market showing DDR5 prices are now about 5.5 times higher than before the crisis. Another price increase would be bad news for consumers.
Most current forecasts agree that memory prices will continue rising through the rest of 2026 and into 2027. The view that the crisis will last at least three more years, or until around 2030, aligns with opinions from several analysts and industry insiders, including Micron, which warns the crisis will worsen in 2027 and 2028, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who has said the RAM shortage will drag on for several years.
. Source:TechRadar