Prices for laptops, PCs, flash drives, SSDs, routers, and smartphones are climbing as the global memory market faces an AI‑driven shortage.
Industry insiders project that the scarcity will persist through 2026, extend into 2027, and may not ease until 2028.
The surge in demand is largely driven by AI data centers, which require large amounts of RAM and GPUs. Existing orders are being rolled over into the next year, further tightening supply.
Large firms lock in multi‑year contracts with memory manufacturers, limiting capacity for new orders until agreements expire. The shift of sales from consumer to enterprise markets has amplified the pressure on available inventory.
New semiconductor fabrication plants are progressing too slowly to meet the rising demand, and other key players such as SK Hynix, ADATA, and Micron anticipate a worsening situation in 2027 before any relief appears.
Smaller manufacturers face significant challenges, as RAM production is costly, time‑intensive, and requires precise planning. New entrants struggle to establish themselves against established producers.
With supply constraints expected to continue, prices are likely to stay high or climb further, reflecting the ongoing imbalance between demand and production capacity.
