Memory Rebound Signals Strengthen... DRAM and NAND Prices Rise for 3 Consecutive Months

D-RAM and NAND December Fixed Transaction Prices
D-RAM Up 6.5%, NAND Up 6%

Prices of memory semiconductors, DRAM and NAND flash, have risen for three consecutive months. It is expected to accelerate the improvement in the performance of semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

According to market research firm DRAMeXchange on the 29th, the average fixed transaction price of PC DRAM general-purpose products (DDR4 8Gb) in December recorded $1.65, up 6.45% from the previous month.

Samsung Electronics DDR5 standard 12nm-class DRAM.
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

DRAM prices rebounded by 15.38% in October, marking the first increase in 2 years and 3 months since July 2021 (7.89% increase), and continued the upward trend by rising 3.33% in November.

NAND prices also increased. The fixed transaction price of NAND flash general-purpose products for memory cards and USB (128Gb 16Gx8 MLC) in December recorded $4.33, up 6.02% from the previous month. NAND prices also turned upward starting in October, the same time as DRAM, rising 1.59% in October, 5.41% in November, and further increasing this month.

The price increase is interpreted as a result of the production cuts by major memory companies such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix taking full effect.

Memory price recovery is expected to continue next year as well. Market research firm TrendForce forecasted that mobile DRAM and NAND flash (eMMC/UFS) prices will rise by 18-23% in the first quarter of next year. TrendForce analyzed, "Before memory prices rise further, buyers need to replenish their inventory," adding, "In the case of DRAM, a double-digit price increase is expected in the first quarter of next year."