The situation in the DRAM industry is rapidly getting out of control, and DDR4 prices in the spot segment have already exceeded the cost of DDR5 this quarter.
The memory shortage is intensifying ahead of the first quarter of 2026. Most configurations of high-performance RAM are becoming virtually inaccessible to the mass buyer. According to the Taiwanese publication Ctee, citing Goldman Sachs analytics, the level of "despair" in the DRAM market has reached such a scale that spot prices for DDR4 jumped by 172% at once, while DDR5 rose in price by 76%. Experts warn that the current jump is just the beginning.
It is noted that current spot prices are not yet fully reflected in the cost of final consumer goods. However, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers and assemblers: it is extremely problematic to conclude long-term contracts now. Major memory suppliers, including SK hynix and Samsung, on the contrary, prefer short-term agreements, seeking to quickly incorporate spot premiums into contracts. As a result, manufacturers find themselves in an extremely vulnerable position.