The memory market is experiencing an increasingly complicated situation and, far from relaxing, Prices continue to climb at a dizzying paceThe latest move comes from South Korea, where Samsung has once again implemented a significant price increase for its DRAM memory chips amidst the boom in artificial intelligence and data centers. memory shortage which has even led to changes in the GPU supply.
The company has reportedly already signed new agreements with major clients that include an approximate 30% increase in the price of the DRAM compared to the previous quarter. This adjustment comes just months after the Asian giant doubled tariffs at the beginning of the year, placing European manufacturers, distributors, and users in a particularly precarious situation.
Samsung continues to raise prices, driving up the cost of DRAM
According to information from South Korean industry sources, such as ETNews, Samsung has introduced a new price increase to the market that is around 30% above the level of the first quarter of 2026This decision comes on top of the nearly 100% increase implemented at the beginning of the year, completing an unprecedented escalation in such a short time.
To get an idea of the impact, various analyses illustrate the case with a simple example: a DRAM chip that cost 10.000 Korean won by the end of 2025 It was worth around 20.000 won at the beginning of 2026, and with the recent increase, it's now around 26.000 won. In other words, in just two quarters, the price has more than doubled.
This increase is not limited to a specific type of product, but rather It affects a wide range of memoriesFrom high-bandwidth HBM chips for AI accelerators and servers, to conventional DRAM used in RAM modules for PCs, laptops, consoles, and smartphones, and including components for NVMe SSDs and enterprise storage solutions, such as the Raspberry Pi price increase.
The new supply contracts that Samsung reportedly closed with high-volume buyers reflect this widespread increase. Big Tech and Hyperscalers They are accepting these conditions to secure stock for the coming months, a sign that AI-related demand is far from cooling down; many are motivated by the memory crisis that puts pressure on the supply chain.
Furthermore, it is practically taken for granted that SK Hynix and Micron will replicate the strategyThis maintains the upward trend across the entire DRAM sector. The three companies together control over 90% of global DRAM production, so any coordinated move has an immediate effect on prices worldwide, including in Europe and Spain.
AI takes over almost all production: servers first, consumption later
One of the key points to understand this price increase is the destination of the production. A large part of Samsung's factories have been focused on HBM memoryThis is essential for GPUs and dedicated AI accelerators. The remaining volume is being prioritized for server-grade DRAM and high-performance NAND for enterprise SSDs, where margins are significantly higher than in the consumer market.
In large data centers the situation is practically the opposite of that of the home user: all available memory is purchased And hyperscalers are willing to pay high prices to avoid running out of capacity. This urgency to secure supply has led to long-term contracts that further pressure supply.
Meanwhile, a kind of silent collapse is taking place in the consumer channel. In Europe and Spain, Sales of DDR4 and DDR5 RAM modules for PCs have begun to suffer Faced with prices that many users consider excessive, some consumers are delaying upgrading their equipment or even lowering their expectations for memory expansion.
Paradoxically, this drop in domestic demand has generated some stock accumulation in consumer memory, which in recent weeks had led to slight occasional drops in performance on some DDR5 models in markets such as Europe or the United States. However, analysts agree that this moderation is temporary and that the pressure from new, higher-priced contracts will push prices upward again.
In the PC segment, many manufacturers and assemblers are reevaluating their standard configurations. Some brands have already opted for reduce the amount of RAM installed by default in certain devices in order to maintain competitive selling prices in Europe, a practice that is also spreading to other connected devices.
Impact on smartphones, SSDs and consumer electronics
The increased cost of DRAM and NAND memory is not limited to servers, but ends up being noticeable in virtually any electronic product. On an entry-level smartphoneThe cost of DRAM memory already represents around 35% of the bill of materials (BOM), while NAND storage can account for about an additional 19%.
This implies that, overall, more than half the manufacturing cost of a budget mobile phone It focuses on these two components. In Europe, where the entry-level and mid-range segments are significant, manufacturers are forced to choose between raising prices, cutting memory, or adjusting other features such as cameras or screen quality.
Similar situations are observed in other products: portable consolesMini PCs, development boards, and IoT devices are feeling the pressure from memory components that Prices have increased in some cases by up to 200% in six monthsSome releases have been delayed or readjusted precisely to review specifications and costs.
In the area of storage, Samsung's position as one of the major suppliers of SSD drives This also influences price trends. Although the company has a smaller direct presence in the retail sale of RAM modules to end users, it does supply a large portion of the chips that end up in desktop and laptop computers from major international manufacturers.
For the Spanish and European consumer, the effect is not always immediate, but it is usually reflected in newer generations of somewhat more expensive devices or with less memory than their predecessors at the same price. As the months go by, this trend could make certain levels of RAM a relatively more exclusive luxury than in previous cycles.
A strained market: forecasts and room for maneuver
Various reports from specialized consulting firms, such as TrendForce or SemiAnalysis, indicate that The DRAM price surge has not yet peaked.As early as the end of March, it was estimated that, during the second quarter of 2026, conventional memory could become between 58% and 63% more expensive year-on-year, driven almost entirely by demand for general-purpose servers and AI infrastructure.
Although the 30% increase attributed to Samsung for this quarter may sound somewhat less aggressive than the most pessimistic scenarios, This adds to a series of consecutive increases which has pushed the cost of RAM and SSDs well above levels seen just a year ago. Some segments, such as memory for consumer computers, saw increases of nearly or exceeding 100% in the previous quarter.
Industry experts point out that DRAM chip manufacturing costs have returned to levels similar to those of 2016 and these figures could continue to rise by double digits next year. Added to this are external factors such as the increased cost of international transport, geopolitical tensions in key regions, and supply problems with materials like helium, essential in certain semiconductor manufacturing processes.
All of this creates a scenario in which the possibility of a sustained drop in prices in the short term seems remote. Analysts are talking more about small, one-off corrections. depending on available stock, followed by further increases linked to the signing of more expensive contracts and the expansion of large AI projects in North America, Europe and Asia.
Meanwhile, numerous manufacturers that rely on these components are trying to weather the storm with different strategies: from opt for configurations with DDR4 instead of DDR5 In certain teams, this could even involve diversifying suppliers or renegotiating delivery times. However, the strong market concentration in the hands of three major players severely limits the actual room for maneuver.
Impact on users, companies and channel in Spain and Europe
In the European context, and particularly in Spain, the consequences are felt both professionally and domestically. Companies that need renew servers, workstations or fleets of laptops They are encountering larger budgets than anticipated, which may lead to delays in upgrade projects or a reduction in the scale of investments.
The retail channel and local integrators face a complicated balancing act: Passing on the full price increases could curb demandHowever, absorbing part of the cost erodes margins. Some online retailers in Spain are already showing very rapid price fluctuations in RAM and SSD modules, reflecting wholesale market swings and continuous changes in supplier rates.
For the end user, the effect translates to: Building or upgrading a PC is now significantly more expensive That was the case in the middle of last year if you wanted to upgrade to DDR5 or the latest generation SSD. That's why many enthusiasts are opting to stick with DDR4 platforms, take advantage of special offers, or limit the size of their memory upgrades.
In the mobile device sector, major manufacturers selling in Europe are being forced to adjust their formula. It is likely that Let's look at models with less RAM or internal storage In certain ranges, relying on marketing appeal and cloud storage services to compensate for the perceived reduction in features.
Executives from major Western technology companies have already warned that they cannot recall a similar situation in terms of the speed with which The cost of memory chips has increasedThis general price increase, they warn, will eventually reach the consumer in the form of higher prices or products with somewhat "adjusted" specifications, both in Spain and in the rest of the continent.
With this new 30% increase in Samsung's DRAM, the memory sector reinforces the feeling of being immersed in an upward price spiral driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, and a production that prioritizes the most profitable segments. The result is a market in which servers, mobile phones, PCs, and all types of electronic devices are affected by an increasingly expensive component.leaving manufacturers, distributors and users looking for ways to adapt to a scenario that, barring any surprises, will remain tense for quite some time.
