The global market for Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) is confronting a sharp escalation in prices: within the very next quarter, product costs are anticipated to surge by a range of 105% to 110% compared to the preceding period. This rise could mark the most substantial increase seen in recent years, and analysts from “Pepelats News” suggest the upward price trend is set to persist at least through the close of 2026.
One of the initial indicators came directly from Micron, which formally informed its associates about a price hike ranging between 115% and 125%. This is the first such declaration issued by a major DRAM producer within the existing pricing cycle. Although rivals like Samsung and SK Hynix have yet to make public statements, specialists believe they will feel compelled to match Micron’s move to offset expenditures and improve profitability amidst escalating demand.
A central driver behind these shifts is the redirection of manufacturing focus towards server-grade memory. Projections from DRAMeXchange indicate that by 2026, between 44% and 45% of total DRAM output will be allocated specifically to the server sector. For Samsung, this ratio might rise by three percentage points, while Micron could see an even more significant jump of seven points relative to 2025 figures.
This reallocation of production capacity necessarily means a reduction in the supply of memory destined for consumer endpoints such as laptops, personal computers, and mobile phones. Consequently, the market risks experiencing a shortage of modules catering to the mass-market segment, which will further intensify price pressures for the average consumer and electronics manufacturers alike.
The appetite for memory from generative AI frameworks, cloud infrastructure, and data centers remains robust, solidifying server memory as the manufacturers’ main concentration. As there are no visible signs of DRAM pricing stabilizing soon, the costs associated with upgrading and producing everyday electronics are only set to climb shortly. Consumers and system builders ought to prepare themselves for this impending cycle of scarcity and should consider arranging their procurements proactively.
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