[News] Nanya Tech: DRAM Up Month by Month in 1Q, Sharp 2Q Jump Ahead, Shortage Through 2028

As memory prices accelerate on tight supply, major vendors led by Samsung have launched fresh DRAM hikes. Against this backdrop, Taiwan’s top DRAM maker Nanya Technology said prices are still rising month by month this quarter, with second-quarter quotes poised to “jump” sharply, according to Economic Daily News.

Citing President Lee Pei-Ing, the report adds that DRAM pricing is expected to stay elevated in a “T-shaped” pattern, with firm support at high levels until supply tightness gradually improves, potentially in 2H28. According to Commercial Times, capacity additions will remain constrained through this year and into the first half of 2027, keeping the market in sustained undersupply, Lee added.

Meanwhile, memory heavyweights are speeding up price hikes. ET News reports that Samsung has confirmed first-quarter DRAM increases exceeding 100%, marking another sharp jump just one month after a 70% hike was agreed in January. Industry sources add that SK hynix and Micron have secured Q1 contracts at comparable levels, signaling a broad-based surge across the sector.

As the report explains, traditionally, memory supply contracts—including DRAM—were arranged on an annual basis. However, with recent shortages, manufacturers are now pushing for quarterly agreements, and rapidly changing prices are forcing some customers to consider month-to-month arrangements, ET News notes.

Notably, Commercial Times, citing industry sources, indicates that second-quarter contract prices from the three major suppliers — Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron — have begun to settle, with increases of up to 40% expected. As Nanya Tech’s pricing typically lags the top three suppliers, market watchers anticipate its price upcycle will peak in the second quarter, the report suggests.

For now, TrendForce projects further acceleration in contraction price increases in 1Q26, with conventional DRAM prices expected to surge 90–95% QoQ, and blended conventional DRAM + HBM pricing rising 80–85% QoQ.

Nanya Tech’s Take on China and Middle East

According to TechNews, Nanya Tech President Lee Pei-Ing also addressed market concerns over recent Middle East unrest, noting that DRAM demand from the region is minimal. Europe (including the Middle East) accounts for roughly 5% of Nanya’s revenue, with the Middle East under 1%, making any direct sales impact very limited, the report adds.

On Chinese DRAM manufacturers’ capacity expansion, MoneyDJ, citing Lee, reports that Chinese memory makers are currently focused on smartphone and domestic-market demand, primarily in lower-end consumer applications. Shifting to DDR4 or more advanced DRAM would require redevelopment and requalification, making it unlikely to materially impact overall market supply in the near term, the report notes.

Commercial Times, citing Wccftech, previously reported that Apple is assessing memory products from leading Chinese suppliers for potential adoption as early as the iPhone 18 lineup and future MacBooks. The strategy is reportedly seen as a bid to diversify supply and gain leverage in negotiations with the three dominant DRAM vendors — Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron.

Read more

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(Photo credit: Nanya Tech)