AI demand drives memory chip shortage
Global memory prices have risen sharply as chipmakers shift production toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to meet demand from artificial intelligence, a move that has squeezed supply of standard RAM used in laptops and smartphones. Shops in Hong Kong report big price jumps and weaker sales, with a 16GB RAM module rising from about HK$300-400 to HK$1,500. Analysts say PC and smartphone memory costs are roughly five to six times higher than a year ago. Industry leaders Samsung, SK hynix and Micron have seen large profits, while newcomer CXMT has recently gained market attention in China.
Shift to HBM is causing sharp RAM price increases
Context
Chipmakers are moving production toward HBM for AI use. This reduced the supply of regular RAM and raised prices. If AI demand stays high, shortages could continue into 2027 and 2028.
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