[News] Samsung Readies New Price Hikes: Consumer DRAM, SSD Reportedly Doubled, NAND Set for 50%+ Rise

Ahead of Samsung and SK hynix’s January 29 earnings calls, a fresh wave of memory price hikes is sweeping the market, potentially giving a boost to their results. South Korean media The Elec and ETNews report that Samsung’s consumer DRAM and SSD prices have nearly doubled—or even tripled—over the past two months, while NAND prices are also set for a sharp jump in the first quarter.

The Elec attributes the sharp increase to Samsung’s strategy, which prioritizes production for enterprise-grade memory. The report adds that enterprise memory typically commands a premium of more than 40% over consumer-grade products, reflecting stricter requirements for reliability, stability, and a higher bill of materials.

According to The Elec, Samsung’s Gen 5 DDR5 16GB-5600 PC DRAM, which sold for around KRW 150,000 in November, was priced above KRW 400,000 in South Korea as of last Friday. The report also notes that consumer SSD and NAND flash prices have doubled, with Samsung’s T7 1TB portable SSD rising from about KRW 140,000 to over KRW 280,000. Bulk purchases of the 1TB and 2TB models are reportedly unavailable.

As The Elec notes, Samsung outsources domestic consumer DRAM distribution to partners such as Mirai Semiconductors and Weditz. The report also pushes back on earlier market rumors suggesting that all Samsung memory products would rise by up to 80, citing a source familiar with the company. Distributors told the outlet that the recent price hikes reflect higher procurement costs from Samsung itself.

Amid the sharp DRAM price hikes, Hankyung reports that Samsung’s DRAM inventory stands at just six weeks’ supply—roughly half the typical 10–12 week level. With the largest production capacity among the memory “big three,” the company is poised to reap higher profits in this supplier-driven market.

NAND Prices Surge Across the Board

Like DRAM, NAND makers are also joining the wave of price hikes. ETNews reports that Samsung finalized supply contracts with key customers late last year, applying higher prices from January. While market speculation has suggested a first-quarter 2026 increase of over 100%, industry sources say Samsung has yet to officially announce NAND prices, though the rise is expected to exceed 50%.

ETNews notes that the sharp price surge is not limited to Samsung Electronics. SK hynix is also reportedly raising prices at a similar pace, with the two companies holding the top two spots in global NAND market share. The ETNews report also cites Nomura, which says SanDisk plans to increase NAND prices by 100% in the new year.

Industry sources added that other major NAND suppliers, alongside Samsung, are expected to raise prices by 50–80% in the first quarter, underscoring the widespread impact of the current memory price rally.

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(Photo credit: Samsung)